12 killed as violence mars Ijaw Youth Council election in Rivers

• The election was marred by heavy shooting, leaving the residents of the community in a state of apprehension and uncertainty

At least twelve persons have lost their lives after the election to elect new leadership of the ljaw Youth Council (IYC), Eastern Zone turned bloody.

The incident happened in Abuloma Community in Port Harcourt City local government area of Rivers State where the election took place.

The election was marred by heavy shooting, leaving the residents of the community in a state of apprehension and uncertainty.

A bus was also set ablaze and a woman was reportedly hit by a stray bullet.

According to DAILY CHAMPION, the election which was held at Abuloma Model Primary School, was going smoothly when fully armed men in their numbers, stormed the venue shooting sporadically.

A community source who spoke in confidence with newsmen said the armed men stormed the venue of the election on the orders of an unnamed militant leader who is interested in the outcome of the IYC election.

He said, the shooting which went on for hours left residents, business owners and participants scampering for safety.

The source said: “My brother, we never expected what we saw yesterday during the election at Abuloma. Let me not lie, over 12 persons died. Some of them died after leaving the venue and about 7 to 8 dead bodies were seen within and around the school, a woman who was far from the venue was hit by a stray bullet too.

Reacting to the incident in a statement, Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Grace Iringe-Koko said the Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu has ordered a manhunt for perpetrators of the crime.

The PPRO said, the Commissioner of Police, upon notification of the incident swiftly dispatched Tactical Teams to the scene, but before the arrival of the Police, the perpetrators ran into their hide out.

The CP however, advised 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