A Divisional Police Officer attached to
Magama Local Government area of Niger State (names withheld) was on
Saturday accused of snatching four ballot boxes and papers at the
Mungoro central polling unit of the Majin ward.
He was also alleged to have tear-gassed
officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and
electorate who were on a queue to cast their votes.
An eyewitness, Mr. Ibrahim Rege, said
the accreditation of voters was peacefully conducted and that voting was
in progress when the DPO invaded the polling unit, fired tear gas
canisters at the crowd and allegedly took the ballot boxes and papers
away.
Rege said, “The entire voting process
was on course peacefully. Accreditation was peacefully carried out and
voters were orderly on the queue to cast their vote when the DPO stormed
the polling unit, tear-gassed both INEC officials and the people before
carting away the ballot boxes together with the thumb-printed and
virgin ballot papers”.
He complained that people in the area
had cause to report the DPO to the Area Commander recently, accusing him
of personally destroying posters and bill boards of APC candidates.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Mr.
Ahmed Ibeto, who hails from the area, said he was informed of the
incident and expressed concern at the unprofessional behaviour of the
police officer.
Ibeto corroborated the allegation of bias levied against the DPO.
But when contacted on telephone, the
state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Emmanuel Amore, denied the allegation
and explained that the DPO only helped to rescue the INEC officials and
materials from hoodlums.
Amore said, “It is not true; my DPO only
protected the INEC officials and their materials from some hoodlums.
They are only making allegations because they were not allowed to carry
out their nefarious activity.
“Go and ask INEC if any of their material is missing. My DPO only helped to protect the INEC officials and materials”.
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