#BayelsaDecides: Police confirm arrest of ballot box-snatching suspects

DIG Hashimu Argungu briefing press on Gubernatorial election this morning in Bayelsa state.photo by Idowu Ogunleye

DIG Hashimu Argungu oversaw police activities in Bayelsa State during the December polls
Photo: Idowu Ogunleye

DIG Hashimu Argungu oversaw police activities in Bayelsa State during the December polls Photo: Idowu Ogunleye
DIG Hashimu Argungu oversaw police activities in Bayelsa State during the December polls
Photo: Idowu Ogunleye

The Police in Bayelsa said it had commenced investigation on the alleged snatching of ballot box during Saturday’s supplementary governorship election in the state.

The command’s Spokesman, Mr Asinim Butswat, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, confirmed to NAN in Yenagoa that two suspects were arrested for forcefully removing the box at Otuokpoti, Unit 1, Ward 2, Ogbia Local Government Area.

“As we speak, two suspects who snatched the ballot box are in our custody. We have commenced investigation on the incident.

“So far, we have not received report of any incident since the election began early today in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and other polling units in other parts of the state,” he said.

Butswat said Police team leader for the election, Mr Hashim Argungu, a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), accompanied by heads of other security agencies and one Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commissioner, visited some polling units.

“The team visited Agudama-Epetiama community in Yenagoa Local Government Area, with three polling units.

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“The situation was calm and reports from other polling units say all was calm,” he said.

The spokesman said that the command was in control of the situation and that personnel deployed for the election were effectively monitoring areas assigned to them.

Meanwhile, polling in the governorship supplementary election in Bayelsa being conducted in Southern Ijaw Local Government and 101 units in other parts of the state, has ended in most polling stations.

The December 5, 2015 governorship election in the state was marred in Southern Ijaw and some polling units across the state by violence.

The exercise was consequently cancelled in the areas by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), after attempt to repeat the exercise on December 6, was also disrupted by violence.

In the 75 polling units in Amasoma ward, voting ended at about 4:10 p.m., while it was concluded at Peremebiri at 3:25 p.m.

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