State Elections: Situation Room Says It Has Recorded Seven Deaths

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room says it has documented
at least seven politically motivated deaths within since the
beginning of the Governorship and House of Assembly elections in 29
states across the country.

The spokesperson of the group, Clement Nwankwo, said this at the
presentation of an interim report on the conduct of the elections
in Abuja.

The local elections observer group expressed serious concern on
the spate of electoral violence recorded so far in some elections
where elections are holding.

He said, “The Situation Room is concerned that despite the high
level of deployment of security we are still having pockets of
violence.”

He called on the security agents to arrest and prosecute all
election offenders irrespective of their party affiliation.

Earlier, Mr. Nwankwo had deplored the military’s involvement in
the nation’s elections, saying the practice posed a threat to the
nation’s democracy.

Speaking on The Verdict, Channels Television’s special broadcast
on the ongoing state elections, Mr. Nwankwo said if the military
would not take directives from the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), they should not participate in electoral
process.

“We went through 13 years of brutal military dictatorship and we
are at the point today where for the first time since 1999, the
army is playing such an incredibly direct role in our elections,”
he said.

Nigerian Troops Dislodge Terrorists, Recover Gun Trucks
in Villages

Troops of 122 Task Force Battalion deployed in the Forward
Operation Base at Ngwom Community in Borno State have effectively
destroyed some Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) when they (troops) had
a fierce encounter with the terrorists fighting in 4 gun trucks at
about 2230hrs on Wednesday, the 6th of March, 2019.

The bandits (BHTs), had in the recent past, attempted to attack
the same troops’ location but phyrrically receded because of stiff
resistance and aggressive pursuit from the indefatigable and
patriotic troops on a noble military expedition.

In the encounter, tremendous success was achieved, – troops
captured the following;

a. 2 Gun trucks mounted with Anti Aircraft Guns
b. 2 Rocket Propelled Grenade Tubes
c. 5 AK 47 rifles

Additionally, 5 BHTs were forcefully sent to “permanent sleep”.
Several others evidently escaped with gunshot wounds.

Similarly, on the same day, at about 2300 hours, troops deployed
at Gulak responded to a distress call from Kubu village in Shani
Local Government Area of Borno State on the nefarious activities of
terrorists – criminals operating in the village.

On getting close to the area, the bandits engaged the troops
with sporadic firing. In the process, the following incidences were
recorded;

A BHT was deleted and 1 AK 47 rifle was recovered. No lost of
life or casualty on the part of the Nigerian Army.

The Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Nigerian
Army and Commander Sector 1, Operation Lafiya Dole, Brigadier
General Abdulmalik Bulama Biu commended the troops and conveyed the
Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai’s
commendation and continued support in the war against terrorism and
insurgency. He urged them to maintain the momentum at all
times.

SAGIR MUSA
Colonel
Acting Director Army
Public Relations