Officials of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and voters fled for safety on Saturday when armed men dressed in police uniforms stormed Elekahia Primary School in Port Harcourt City Local Government, firing tear gas and seizing election materials.
Approximately 21 Hilux patrol vans carrying heavily armed men were seen driving into the venue from Elekahia Road. Upon arrival, they immediately launched tear gas into the area.
RSIEC officials, who had set up their stand for accreditation in Ward 19, which comprises 10 units, quickly fled as the operatives forced them out of the entrance.
One of the armed men confronted an INEC official, demanding, “Come here, take off that vest. What are you doing here?”
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The armed men, some of whom were masked, also asked the officials to remove their vests and hand them to them as they ensured that they carted away all election materials and fired more teargas.
The armed men also fired tear gas canisters directly into the crowd of people fleeing for their lives.
One of the operatives launched another tear gas canister at bystanders near the entrance of Ibe Street in Elekahia, causing residents and voters to scatter in panic.
Many RSIEC officials, voters, and residents of the community fled in confusion into Ibe and Boms Streets in Elekahia, creating panic in the area. The tension escalated as several police patrol vans sped away from the scene, carrying election materials.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, responded briefly, saying, “I’m not aware. You’re just informing me now.”
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