• Tuesday, March 19, 2024
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Anambra: Federal lawmaker wants IGP to investigate killings in Obosi

Abubakar Adamu Mohammed

Obinna Chidoka, representing Idemili North and Idemili South Federal Constituency of Anambra State, has called on the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu to investigate the killings of two men during the March 2 rerun election in Obosi community.

Chidoka made the call on Monday while speaking to newsmen in Obosi, Idemili North of Anambra.

It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) organised a rerun in 26 polling units in Obosi and some parts in Abatete after violence marred collation of results during Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections in the area.

But in spite of the assurance by security agencies of adequate provision of security, March 9 recorded more hiccups with the death of two persons and gunshot injuries to more than six persons in Obosi.

Chidoka, who narrated the gory tale of his experience at the scene of the incident, said he escaped death narrowly.

“I was using my smart phone to video the commotion which greeted the sudden order by the DPO who was posted to Obosi on the eve of the election from Achalla Police station that the collation of results at Chuke Memorial Primary School, the ward collation centre be moved to Ogidi, the Local Government Headquarters when I started hearing gunshots,” he said.

Chidoka added that he stood less than 10 metres across the road from Chuke Memorial Primary Schools while the shooting lasted.

“My orderly rushed me to a container used for mini shop but the owner who was already inside locked it and refused to open for us after we knocked and knocked,” he said.

At that point, he had to hide beside condemned tyres and goods until the shooting ended, he explained.

“At the end of the incident, I was driving out when I saw the convoy of the Commissioner of Police and turned back to meet him, it was then that we uncovered that two persons were killed during the shooting,” he said.

The federal lawmaker said that he could not believe the story attributed to the Police in the state that the death of the two persons in Obosi on March 9 resulted from rival cult clash.

He noted that after the Obosi incident, the security agencies and some INEC officials disappeared with the election materials and later produced results, which he said were against the results from the polling units.

Chidoka said that IGP should look into the matter and direct that autopsy be conducted to unravel the cause of the deaths of the duo.

He also called on INEC to void the rerun election, adding that Feb.23 Presidential and National Assembly election had already produced results for all polling units in Idemili North and Idemili South Federal Constituency.

“After the interruption of collation of results at Chuke Memorial Primary School, Obosi on Feb.23, Police submitted duplicate copies of results from various polling units to INEC.

He said it was these results that INEC used to return the outcome of Presidential and Anambra Senatorial Central elections for Idemili North. He however raised a question over the results of polling units across Obosi, which according to him the police “equally had in their custody,” but did not tender

Nkwachukwu Orji, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, said INEC relied on what police gave to them following the disruption of collation of result at Chuke Memorial Primary School, Obosi.

Also reacting, SP Mohammed Haruna, Anambra Police Command Public Relations Officer, said the duplicate copies of polling units results the Police tendered to INEC were based on the request by INEC.

“You can go back to INEC and find out from them why they requested for only the documents we gave them,” he said.

 

Emmanuel Ndukuba