The GOC 6 Division of the Nigerian Army used the All Progressive Congress,
APC, email account to send out a Press Release on Sunday.
The action confirms allegations by Governor Nyesome Wike of Rivers State
that the Nigerian Army and other security agencies have all colluded with
the Independent National Elecoral Commission, INEC, to rig the Rivers
rerun elections in favor of the APC.
The Army email, a copy which was sent to pointblanknews.com was sent via
apcrivers@yahoo.com
The email reads:
PRESS RELEASE BY GOC 6 DIVISION NIGERIAN ARMY
1. The alleged killing and mass arrest by soldiers in Tai, Ogoni,
Gokhna-Ogoni LGA
of Rivers State were false. It is true that soldiers of 6 Division
Nigerian Army
provided security during the Rivers State Legislative Re-run Election that
was
conducted today. In addition, the allegations made by some respected
politicians
regarding deep involvement of soldiers during the elections were aimed at
tarnishing
the positive image of the Army.
2. These people allegedly accused soldiers of ballot box snatching,
illegal escorts
of some politicians, arrest and detention of voters during the general
conduct of
the elections. The weighty nature of these allegations could cause members
of the
public to view soldiers negatively, hence the need to adequately inform
the general
public on the true perspective. The public thus need to consider them as
mere farce
to garner public sympathy.
3. The 6 Division, 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.
Susceptibility
of mentioned areas warranted providing security for the electoral
officials, voters,
international and local observers, in conjunction with other security
agencies by
soldiers for a peaceful election to thrive in the environment.
4. These areas were rift with armed men that engaged security personnel.
In Gokhana,
armed hoodlums engaged the soldiers providing outer perimeter defence for the
electorates. 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.
5. At Emouha, Mr Oblewaremu abducted 5 NYSC members with election
materials in a
Siena bus. The corps members were rescued while the suspect was handed
over to the
Police. 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 police patrol team was ambushed. In
the ambush,
10 policemen scampered into the bush.
6. 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. 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. These
attacks are
reasonable evidence of violations of breach of law and order which portray
the area
as a flash point. Despite these barbarism, soldiers acted with civility and
professionally guaranteeing peaceful election.
7. Nigerian Army as a respected institution with constitutional
responsibility to
safeguard lives and property, could not watch miscreants and hoodlums
abducting,
maiming and killing innocent citizens especially in senseless attacks on
uniform
personnel. 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 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.