THREE persons have reportedly lost their lives, at the venue for the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) election in Abuloma area of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Rivers State, on Saturday.
Pentoks News gathered that armed supporters of different opponents stormed the venue for the election in Abuloma community and disrupted the exercise with sporadic gunshots for several hours.
Sources alleged that several youths sustained injuries in that pandemonium, as some scampered for safety.
A source and resident of the area identified as Goodluck, said his neighbour was hit by a stray bullet, and he bled to death because nobody could come to his rescue.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command said it was aware of the “senseless and sporadic shooting at Abuloma area in the Port-Harcourt City Local Government of the State where the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Central Zone were conducting their elections.”
State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police (SP), confirmed the shooting, but did not mention any casualty in her statement released this evening.
She said that as a result of gunshots, the Commissioner of Police Rivers State, CP Olatunji Disu, swiftly despatched tactical teams to the scene, but before the arrival of the Police, the perpetrators had run into their hidings.
According to her, the Commissioner of Police has given marching orders to track down the perpetrators and bring them to face the full wrath of the law.
“Meanwhile, the Command wishes to advise all law abiding citizens to go about their lawful businesses and report any suspicious movement to the Police, as normalcy has returned to the area please.”