2 feared dead as Ijaw youths election turns bloody in Rivers

At least two persons were feared dead during the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Central Zone election held in the Abuloma area of Port Harcourt on Saturday.

Eyewitness account claimed that trouble started when youths who participated in the election discovered some fraud in the electoral process.

Some vested interest in the state had reportedly wanted to foist an unpopular candidate in the election, resulting in a gun battle.

An eyewitness said gunmen invaded the venue of the election and shot sporadically, reportedly shooting two persons dead.

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Many others were said to have sustained bullet injuries.

“About two persons may have died in the Jetty axis of Abuloma during the IYC Central Zone election. Trouble started when some vested interest wanted to foist an unpopular candidate against the wishes of others. Gunmen invaded the venue of the election and started shooting,” said the eyewitness who pleaded anonymity.

The incident was said to have caused pandemonium as residents scampered for safety for fear of being caught in the crossfire.

The Rivers State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Koko, in a statement said the command was aware of “the senseless and sporadic shooting at Abuloma area over the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Central Zone election.”

Koko said the Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, despatched tactical teams to the venue but before the arrival of the police, the perpetrators had fled.

She said the CP had directed that the perpetrators be tracked down and made to face the full wrath of the law.

She called on the residents of the area to go about their lawful businesses as normalcy had returned to the area, urging them to report any suspicious movement to the police.