The Akwa Ibom State Police Command, on Monday, paraded 63 suspected political thugs, including 10, who were arrested in connection with pre-election violence in the Obot-Akara Local Government Area of the state.
Two persons were killed and 13 vehicles burnt in the incident on Saturday.
Some of the suspects, PUNCH Metro learnt, were allegedly hired from Bayelsa, Delta and Ondo states by desperate politicians.
A
locally-made gun, 25 live cartridges, two machetes, charms, a knife,
phones, human hair, two axes and Permanent Voter Cards were some of the
items recovered from the suspects.
Parading the suspects at a
press briefing held at the command’s headquarters in Uyo, the state
Commissioner of Police, Mr Bashir Makama, said 41 of them, who claimed
to be election observers, were arrested on Friday, February 15, 2019, in
a hotel in Uyo.
He said the suspects could not produce identity
cards issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission or
properly identify themselves.
Makama, who was represented at the
briefing by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Odiko MacDon, said
20 other suspects were arrested on the same day at the Ukanafun Local
Government Area of the state.
He said the suspects were allegedly
brought in from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by one Uduak Dick, on the
pretext of attending the burial ceremony of a Lance Corporal in the
Nigerian Army, Udo Essien.
Makama said some suspects had on
February 13 set ablaze the INEC office at the Eastern Obolo Local
Government Area of the state, but the timely intervention of the police
saved the office and all the materials meant for the elections from
being completely burnt.
The commissioner added that one Anietie
Peters, who hails from the Mkpat-Enin Local Government Area of the
state, was arrested on Friday in possession of 34 PVCs, while one Ayaya
Bassey and Asuquo Ebio, who were apprehended at the Ikot-Ekpene Local
Government Area, had confessed to be thugs hired by a politician from
Cross River State.
He said, “The command, on February 12, also
killed two suspected killers of one Anthony Ikechuwu, a pharmacist, who
was shot dead by hoodlums at the St. Michael Primary School, Abak Local
Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
“The victim’s Lexus SUV with
number plate, AKD 850 DS, has been recovered. The suspects were traced
to their hideout in Aba, Abia State. They were killed in a gun duel with
members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad from Akwa Ibom State, while a
locally-made revolver pistol with four live cartridges was recovered
from the suspects.”
Makama used the occasion to warn politicians
in the state to play by the rules and advise their supporters to conduct
themselves or risk arrest by the police.
“Let me use this
opportunity to call on politicians to play the game by the rules. Let me
assure you that the non-partisan nature of the police in Akwa Ibom
State will not change; we will remain apolitical, neutral and committed
to free, fair and credible elections. We will at all times act
professionally based on international best practices,” Makama said.
One
of the 41 suspects, Okoroda Ken, from Bayelsa State, said he and his
colleagues were arrested at the Angellyne Hotel around 3am on February
15, adding that they had yet to reach their coordinator, who lodged them
in the hotel.
“We all submitted our passports to the Society for
the Advancement of Credible Leadership and Observation. This
organisation is registered with and credited by INEC. Since we
submitted our passports, we were told that our names were submitted to
INEC and that we would likely monitor the elections in Uyo.
“We
came on Thursday to confirm whether our names were there or not. We were
in the Angellyne Hotel, which was booked for us by the coordinator of
the group, Berefa Bedfon. When we were arrested, all our phones were
taken from us and we have not been able to contact anyone. INEC can
confirm if our names have been registered with them.”
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