The General Officer Commanding, GOC, of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has narrated how a Deputy Superintendent of Police was beheaded alongside his orderly, as well as ho scores of corps members who were kidnapped in the legislative re-run elections in Rivers State on Saturday.
Kasimu Abdulkarim, a major general, made the chilling revelation as he refuted allegations that soldiers from his division were involved in ballot box snatching, illegal escorts of some politicians, killing and mass arrests and detention of voters during the polls.
He described the allegations as mere farce, false and an attempt by desperate politicians to garner public sympathy at the expense of the integrity and good name of the Army.
Narrating some of the incidents, the GOC said: “Several shooting were recorded in some communities such as Bodo, the home town of the secretary to the State Government, B-dere and Mogho in Gokhana LGA, including snatching of ballot boxes.
“The most brutal incidence occurred at Ujju Community near Omoku in Onelga where a police patrol team was ambushed. In the ambush, 10 policemen scampered into the bush.
“The Mobile Police organized a rescue mission. Regrettably, the team discovered that DSP Alkali Mohammed of Mobile Police Unit 48 was beheaded along with his orderly.
“The patrol vehicle was taken away with weapons, 3 policemen escaped while 5 were missing in action.”
Abdulkarim recalled that “this is the same area where soldiers of 34 Brigade were ambushed on 20 November 2016 where a soldier was killed.
“Also on 21 November 2016, 4 personnel of NSCDC were killed and their weapons carted away,” he said.
Narrating further, the Army commander said: “In Abonema at 0730 hours today, there were 3 explosions that created bedlam. Subsequently, 11 NYSC members were abducted along with electoral materials.
“However, 10 of them were rescued 2 hrs later by the soldiers while one was rescued about 8hrs later.”
“At Emouha, Mr Oblewaremu abducted 5 NYSC members with election materials in a Sienna bus. The corps members were rescued while the suspect was handed over to the Police.”
Abdulkarim stated categorically that “the 6 Division (of the) Nigerian Army remained apolitical in the conduct of the election.”
“Its soldiers provided perimeter defence to ward off hoodlums and miscreants. Nigerian Army troops were in no way involved in any form of ballot box snatching, neither were they involved in the escort of politicians as alleged.
“They acted swiftly in response to security breaches in order to enforce the law, provide aid to the Nigeria Police and other security agencies especially in areas like Abonema, Etche, Gokhana, Ikwere, Eleme, Tai, Khana and Omoku amongst others.”
The GOC expressed concerns that the weighty nature of these allegations could cause members of the public to view soldiers negatively, hence the need to correct the wrong impression being created of the Nigerian Army by some desperate politicians.
Abdulkarim explained that the areas where the Army beefed up security were “rift with armed men” and warranted the provision of adequate cover for the electoral officials, voters, international and local observers, in conjunction with other security agencies.
He added that despite the various attacks by hoodlums on security agents, the soldiers “acted with civility and professionally guaranteeing peaceful election.”
The GOC stated that “the Rivers State Re-Run Election was adjudged credible, free, fair and peaceful in many parts of the State.
“Accusations of soldiers’ partisanship therefore was a sham and phony.
“The Division would continue to maintain apolitical posture in discharge of its roles to ensure provision of adequate security in Rivers State,” he reiterated.