The former chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Mowan Etete and six other persons have been allegedly killed in parts of Rivers State in the Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday.
While the former chairman, his elder brother and cousin whose names are yet to be ascertained were killed in Asarama, the other four persons were allegedly killed at Abonema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area following a reported shoot out.
Etete was killed by armed thugs; the same people were said to have also dispatched his elder brother and another victim believed to be his cousin to their early graves.
The Abonema incident occurred following heavy shootings reported at the ever-turbulent Akuku-Toru local government, even as several persons were reported to have sustained injuries.
Nnamdi Omoni, Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, Rivers State command confirmed the killings to our correspondent even though he declined to make further comments.
But a statement by the APC Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, Chris Finebone, said Etete was former council chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, while Ignatius was an ex-officio member of APC Rivers State Executive committee.
He claimed that the gunmen who were from the opposition party, also killed another person believed to be late chief Etete’s cousin.
He blamed PDP thugs for carrying out the dastardly act saying: “PDP thugs have shot to death an APC chieftain in Asarama, Andoni LGA, Chief Mowan Etete. Etete was a former council chairman.
“Ignatius, an ex-officio member of APC Rivers State Executive committee was also shot to death in Ajakaja, same Andoni LGA.”
In Degema local government area and many others including, Oyigbo election materials were reported to have been snatched in several polling units.
In Degema ward 17 election materials were snatched by hoodlums in military uniform, with the SPO in the boat, even as other boats conveying materials to Bakana were unable to move into the town due shooting in the community. Also, persons and materials for Buguma were returned to INEC office due insecurity in the town.
Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Samuel Nwanosike accused Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi of hiring thugs to destroy election materials and cart away result sheets at unit 6, ward 8, Amaechi’s ward in Ubima.
Nwanosike said that the process was going smoothly until it got to the time collation of the results when the thugs suddenly arrived destroying election materials.
But media aide to the minister, David Iyofo, in response said the disturbances were actually carried out by PDP thugs and were not at the minister’s polling unit as claimed by Nwanosike.
He, however, said the minister would respond to the allegations later.
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