The Commander of a special military mission in Benue State known as “Operation Whirl Stroke” has confirmed attack on Agatu Community in the state on Wednesday
Maj.-Gen. Adeyemi Yekini in a statement said that the number of people killed had not yet been ascertained but that troops had been deployed to the area to restore peace.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yekini said “I received a report this afternoon that some people were killed in Agatu by suspected armed bandits.
“I’m not sure of the number of casualties yet but I don’t think it’s up to 16. We have sent a patrol team to the general area where the incident happened.
“The location where it happened, although in Benue but can better be accessed through Loko in Nasarawa State. We are sending a patrol team there to verify what really happened.”
While addressing the media on Thursday, February 14, 2019, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, said the attack on the commission’s vehicle happened late on Wednesday, February 13.
He said the vehicle was transporting non-sensitive materials ahead of the highly-anticipated elections on Saturday, February 16.
“Recently, our vehicle which was conveying non sensitive materials was attacked along Logo area by people in military uniform,” he said.
The attack comes on the heels of a series of troubling fire incidents that have hit the electoral umpire of late.
The commission lost 4,695 smart card readers in a fire that destroyed two containers filled with election materials at its Anambra State head office on Tuesday, February 12. It was the third INEC office to be torched by fire in 10 days after the ones in Isiala Ngwa LGA in Abia State on Saturday, February 2 and Qua’an Pan local government area of Plateau State on Saturday, February 9.
According to a statement signed by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, on Monday, February 11, the commission has requested additional security measures to enhance security around INEC offices and other critical structures of the commission.
“The commission wishes to assure all Nigerians that it will not succumb to the antics of arsonists whose motive might be to create fear in the minds of voters and sabotage the conduct of the 2019 general elections,” he said.
SOURCE: DAILYPOST,PULSE
What do you think about this story ? Share your views below