Two people sustained bullet wounds at Igwuruta community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, following a move by some youths alleged to be loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, to enforce a High Court judgment.
The alleged Wike’s loyalists, Saturday morning, took to the streets, claiming to be enforcing the court order, which barred the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from releasing the 2023 voters register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC.
Meanwhile, the residents were expecting the arrival of electoral material in the area.
It was gathered that while the residents of Igwuruta were preparing to go to their units, the youths numbering over a hundred started chasing people back to their houses, insisting that the polls would not hold in the area.
The leader of the acclaimed loyalists, who is also a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in the community, Obinna Ekem, stated that they came out to ensure that the people of Igwuruta community complied with the Federal High Court judgment that restrained RSIEC from conducting local government elections.
However, he said, security men attached to a federal lawmaker in the area opened fire on them.
He noted that the incident involved security operatives attached to the federal lawmaker representing Ikwerre-Emohua Federal Constituency, Boniface Emerengwa, and the youths, who were out to ensure the rule of law.
Ekem said: “We came out as members of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, who said that we are not participating in the election and we will not allow illegality to be perpetrated in our ward, Ward 12 Igwuruta, Ikwerre LGA.
“We were in our various chapters to ensure that we complied with the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered by Justice Lifu on the 30th of September.
“As we were there Barr. Emeregwa and one other Amadi and Azunda led their police orderlies and some thugs to attack us.
“They shot several persons. Most of them are receiving treatment in hospitals.
“We ensured that in our various units, we sensitised people that the exercise is in futility and they don’t need to waste their time on what will not yield.
“We were addressing our people when they came to shoot at us.”
However, it was gathered that the situation was brought under control by the Divisional Police Officer of the Igwuruta Police Division, who quickly mobilized men to the area and restored calm.
It was also learned that the election did not take place in the community as well as a neighbouring community – Omuagwa.
Source: Vanguardngr.com
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