PORT HARCOURT – No fewer than 12 youths are feared killed following a deadly clash during the ljaw Youth Council (IYC), Eastern Zone election, on Saturday in Abuloma Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Daily Independent learnt that trouble started after some unknown armed men stormed the Abuloma Model Primary School, venue of the election and began attacking their perceived opponents.
A community source who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that the armed men who were acting on the orders of an unnamed militant leader that felt dissatisfied with the outcome of the youth election.
The source noted that the attack lasted for hours as residents, business owners scampered for safety.
The source explained that while some injured youths managed to escape the scene with various degrees of injuries, many others who were unlucky lost their lives at the wake of the attack, as lifeless bodies were seen lying on the streets
The source added that a stray bullet hit an innocent woman who was far away from the venue.
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“My brother, we never expected what we saw yesterday during the election at Abuloma. Let me not lie, over 12 people 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 stray bullets too.” The source said.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in Rivers State, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, reacting to the development, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu has ordered a manhunt for perpetrators of the attack.
She noted that the Commissioner of Police, following the ugly incident immediately despatched Tactical Teams to the scene, adding that before the Police arrived at the scene, the suspects had fled.
She said: “Consequently, the Commissioner of Police Rivers State has swiftly dispatched Tactical Teams to the venue, but before the arrival of the Police, the perpetrators have run into their hiding places.
“The Commissioner of Police has given marching orders to track down the perpetrators and bring them to face the full wrath of the law.”
Iringe-Koko however relayed the words of the Commissioner of Police, advising all law-abiding citizens in the area to go about their lawful businesses, as normalcy had been restored, urging the people to always report any suspicious movement to the police.
