Rivers LG Election: Police allegedly attack RSIEC officials, voters with teargas, disrupt exercise

By Daniel Abia, P/Harcourt

Against public outcry, officials of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission and voters ran for their lives as operatives of the Nigerian Police arrived at Elekahia Primary School in Port Harcourt City local government area shooting teargas and seizing election materials. 

About 21 Hilux patrol vans with heavily armed operatives were spotted driving into the venue from Elekahia Road and immediately fired several teargas causing pandemonium

At the community primary school, ballot papers were seen scattered at the school premises and on the roadside

RSIEC officials who had set up their stand to begin accreditation in Ward 19 which has ten units scampered for safety and the operatives chased them out of the Ward. 

One of the policemen harassed an official saying, ‘”Come here, remove that vest. What are you doing here?  Common move! 

The policemen some of whom were masked also asked the officials to remove their vests and hand them the vests as they ensured that they carted away all election materials and fired more teargas. 

The operatives also shot tear gas canisters directly into the crowd of people who were running for their lives. 

A policeman fired another teargas at bystanders at the entrance of Ive Street in Elekahia as residents and those who came out to cast their votes ran helter-skelter. 

Many RSIEC officials, voters and residents of the community ran into streets in the Elekahia community in a confused manner thereby creating tension in the area, as several police patrol vans sped out of the area with many election materials. 

When contacted, the spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she was not aware of the incident. 

“I’m not aware. You are just telling me now, ” she stated tersely.