Army hands over more electoral violence suspects to police in Rivers
The Nigeria Army has handed over 14 more suspects arrested for various electoral offences in Rivers state during the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly polls to the police.
At the ceremony which took place at the Officers Mess in Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, Deputy Director Public Relations of the 6th Division, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, said “as usual, the Nigeria Army normally hands over suspects to the police.
“Today, we’re here again to hand over 14 more suspects arrested for various electoral offences during the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state to the police for further investigations and possible prosecution.”
The Brigade Commander, of Brigadier General Adeola Kalejaiye, who handed over the 14 suspects to the Assistant Commissioner of Police in – charge of the CID in the state police command, Victor Onyeugo, however, did not give more details on the electoral offences committed by the suspects.
However, our correspondent gathered that some of the suspects were involved in the violence that erupted in Abonnema, headquarters of Akuku Toru Local Government Area during the February 23 elections in which several people, including a senior army officer were killed.
The suspects, who we learnt were arrested in Abonnema Town and other parts of the local government, include Tobins Tobins, Victor Sam, John Istifanus and Desmond Friday.
Others are Inoma Jim, Alebaka Clifford, Victor Romeo, Divine Sylvester and Omusoye Douglas among others.
This is the third time since the conclusion of the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state that the army would be handing over arrested suspects to the police.
The first was on February 26, where a former commissioner in Governor Nyesom Wike’s cabinet and about 12 others, including security operatives and a serving member of the state House of Assembly were held for various electoral offences and were subsequently, handed over to the police.
The second set of suspects, including some youth corps members were handed over to the police at the same venue on March 1.
In a related development, Transportation Minister and former governor of the state, Chibuike Amaechi has denied any connection with the violence that rocked Akuku Toru Local Government Area during February 23 polls.
He told journalists in Abuja on Tuesday that he never left his polling unit after voting on that day.
