Explosion rocks INEC office in Nkpat-Enin | Nairalaw

The office of the Independent National Electoral Commission,
INEC, in Nkpat-Enin local council of Akwa Ibom State, was on
Saturday night hit by Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

This was coming barely 48-hours after the Ibesikpo Asutan Local
Government Area office of INEC, was attacked in similar
circumstance on Friday, destroying several card readers.

It was gathered that the device was launched into the premises
of INEC while collation of results of the governorship and state
Assembly elections were ongoing.

It was further gathered that the second IED set for detonation
few minutes after, was immediately discovered at the generator room
and defused by the soldiers.

As of the time of filing this report, it could not be
ascertained whether anybody was killed or injured in the attack
said to have affected some parts of the building and sent INEC
officials scampering for safety.

Meanwhile, two suspects said to be hired mecenaries from the
neighbouring Rivers State were arrested by soldiers and handed over
to the Police. The sum of N200,000, according to security sources,
were found on them.

The Special Adviser to governor Udom Emmanuel in-charge of the
Bureau of Labour and Manpower Planning, Mr. Ekong Sampson, who
monitored the collation, condemned the attack and warned aggrieved
politicians not favoured by the outcome of the polls not to inflame
the polity.

Also the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Odiko
Macdon, who confirmed the attack said, “We are aware of the
incident but I am yet to be fully briefed on the matter. I have
asked for the report to be transmitted to me and as soon as I get
the details, we will let the world know.”

Nigerian Army Nabs Sponsored Political Thugs in Military
Uniforms

Credible intelligence available to the Nigerian Army (NA) has
confirmed the kitting of political thugs with military uniforms and
arming of same, to impersonate soldiers and perpetrate various
crimes in the furtherance of the activities of their political
bosses.

Sadly, these thugs have severally been wrongly viewed and
addressed as real military personnel on various social and
mainstream media channels including blogs, chat rooms and messaging
platforms thereby bringing the reputation of the NA on several
occasions to disrepute.

The NA understands that most civilians caught in the callous
onslaught of these murderous thugs might not be able to distinguish
between a genuine soldier from an impersonator, especially when
they are armed with military-type weapons.

However, several of such arrested impostors have given useful
information that has led to unravelling the level of criminal
involvement of some politicians in arming thugs for their depraved
selfish gains. Consequently, the NA would continue with the line of
investigations being pursued to bring to successful prosecution,
both the arrested impostors and their sponsors.

In the interim, the NA would continue to advice well-meaning
citizens to avoid been used as tools in the hands of such wicked
politicians who would go to any immoral length, including meeting
out violence, to steal the mandate of the people. “Nobody’s selfish
ambition is worth the life of an innocent Nigerian citizen”.

Additionally, the NA would continue to use every opportunity
available to remined Nigerians of its apolitical, neutral and
non-partisan stance. The NA would continue to execute its
constitutional responsibilities of providing aid to civil
authorities in order to create a safe and secure environment where
real democratic processes would thrive.

To this end, the NA would gladly welcome any information from
the public about known or suspected impostors/armed thugs being
used to perpetrate violence in the society, for the furtherance of
the wicked ambitions of any criminal individual. Please be assured
that every such information would be treated with the highest level
of confidentiality.

SAGIR MUSA
Colonel
Acting Director Army Public Relations