The Nigerian Army on Sunday provided details of how it rescued corps members kidnapped during the rerun elections in Rivers.
The 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, also said the allegations made by Governor Nyesom Wike and other politicians, accusing the military of involvement in the Saturday legislative re-run elections in the state are aimed at tarnishing the image of the army.
Kasimu Abdulkarim, the General Officer Commanding of the 6 Division, stated these in a statement made available the Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday.
Mr. Abdulkarim denied accusations that soldiers were involved in mass killing and arrest at Tai and Gokhana Local Government Areas of Rivers.
“It is true that soldiers of 6 Division Nigerian Army provided security during the Rivers legislative re-run election.
“These people allegedly accused soldiers of ballot box snatching, illegal escorts of some politicians, arrest and detention of voters during the general conduct of the elections.
“The weighty nature of these allegations could cause members of the public to view soldiers negatively, hence the need to adequately inform the general public on the true perspective.
“The public thus need to consider them as mere farce to garner public sympathy,” he said.
According to Mr. Abdulkarim, the 6 Division, Nigerian Army remained
apolitical in the conduct of the election. Its soldiers provided
perimeter defence to ward off hoodlums and miscreants.He said that the troops were in no way involved in any form of ballot
box snatching, neither were they involved in the escort of politicians
as alleged. “Susceptibility of mentioned areas warranted providing security for the electoral officials, voters, international and local observers, in conjunction with other security agencies by soldiers for a peaceful election to thrive in the environment,” he said.
The GOC said those areas were violated by armed men, who engaged security personnel in shootout.
“In Gokhana, armed hoodlums engaged the soldiers providing outer perimeter defence for the electorates.
“In Abonema there were three explosions that created bedlam.
“Subsequently, 11 NYSC members were abducted along with electoral materials.
“However, 10 of them were rescued two hours later by the soldiers while one was rescued about eight hours later.
“At Emouh five NYSC members were abducted with election materials in a Siena bus.
“The corps members were rescued while the suspect was handed over to the police.
“Several shooting were recorded in some communities such as Bodo, the home town of the Secretary to the State Government, and Mogho in Gokhana Local Government Area, including snatching of ballot boxes.
“The most brutal incidence occurred at Ujju Community near Omoku in Onelga where police patrol team was ambushed. In the ambush, 10 policemen scampered into the bush.
“These attacks are reasonable evidence of violations of breach of law and order which portray the area as a flash point.
“In spite these barbarism, soldiers acted with civility and professionalism in guaranteeing peaceful election,” he said.
He described the accusations of soldiers partisanship as “sham and phoney”.
He said that the division would continue to remain apolitical in the discharge of its roles.
Follow PREMIUM TIMES live updates of the elections here.
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