Written by Daniel Abia, P/Harcourt
Officials of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission defy public outcry as operatives of the Nigeria Police Force arrive at Erekahia Primary School in Port Harcourt Local Government Area, firing tear gas and seizing election materials. and voters ran for their lives.
Approximately 21 Hilux police cars carrying heavily armed operatives were spotted entering the venue from Erekahia Road, and several rounds of tear gas were immediately fired, causing chaos.
At local elementary schools, ballots were scattered inside the schools and along the roadsides.
RSIEC officials who had set up a stand to begin certification in Ward 19, which has 10 units, ran for safety and operatives chased them out of the ward.
One of the officers harassed the officer, telling him to “come over here and take off that vest.” what are you doing here? A common move!
Police officers, some wearing masks, also called on authorities to take off their vests and hand over their vests so they could remove all election materials and fire more tear gas.
Agents also fired tear gas canisters directly into crowds of people fleeing for their lives.
At the Ive Street entrance to Elekahia, police fired tear gas again at onlookers as residents and people who had come to vote milled about.
Tensions arose in the area as a large number of RSIEC staff, voters and local residents ran out onto the roads in the Erekahia area in a chaotic manner, and several police patrol cars loaded with election materials drove out of the area.
When contacted, State Police Command spokesperson Grace Irinji Koko said she was unaware of the incident.
“I don’t know. You just told me that,” she stated simply.
