Officials of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC and voters ran for their lives as operatives of the Nigerian Police arrived Elekahia Primary School in Port Harcourt City local government area shooting teargas.
About 21 Hilux patrol vans with heavily armed operatives were spotted driving into the venue from Elekahia Road.
RSIEC officials who had set up their stand to begin accreditation in Ward 19 which has ten units scampered for safety and the operatives chased them out of the Ward.
One of the policemen was heard saying, ‘”Come here, remove that vest. What are you doing here? Common move!”
The policemen, some of whom were masked, also asked the officials to remove their vest and hand it to them.
The operatives also shot teargas canister directly into the crowd of people who who were running for their lives.
A policeman fired another teargas at by-standers at the entrance of the Street and residents who came out to cast their votes ran helter-skelter.
Many of RSIEC officials, voters and residents of the community ran into Boms streets in Elekahia community in confused manner, thereby creating tension in the area, as the several police patrol vans sped out of the area with many election materials.
When contacted, spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she was not aware of the incident.
“I’m not aware. You are just telling me now, ” she said.
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