SAN FRANCISCO, April 11, (THEWILL) – One person was killed and another injured when violence erupted Saturday in Mkpani village in Yakurr local government area of Cross River during the Governorship and House of Assembly Elections.
The incident, which took place in the early hours of Saturday, was reportedly ignited when some thugs attempted to snatch electoral materials at Government Secondary School, Mkpani
In the process, one young man identified simply as Roland, was shot dead by security operatives while trying to scale the fence into the residence of former Governor of the state, Mr. Clement Ebri, where the electoral materials were being kept allegedly for security purposes.
It was further learnt that one of the injured persons, Mbani Mbani, is in critical condition. Following the development, angry youths were said to have gone berserk burning down houses within the community and nearby Ajere village. Houses said to have been destroyed included the house of a former Crime Editor of the Nigerian Chronicle, Mr. Hosanna Ukonu, and that of a former chapter chairman of the PDP in Yakurr, Mr. Obomgbo.
Reacting, Hon. Willy Eteng, a member of the State House of Assembly and candidate for Yakuur 2 state constituency, said Labour Party (LP) supporters reportedly hijacked the electoral materials to the house of former governor of the state, Ebri, who is a core supporter of LP in the local government area.
“As I’m talking to you now, the houses of my supporters have been burnt for trying to stop them and one killed by security operatives attached to a popular politician within the area. I am appealing to INEC to intervene to ensure that proper thing is done, ” he said.
Speaking to newsmen on the issue, the former Governor of the state, Ebri, said some INEC officials ran to his house for cover after some of the materials meant for the area were snatched at gun point.
“When I saw them, I told them that they cannot stay with such sensitive materials in my house and I called the DPO of the area who came in and took the materials intact with the officers,” Ebri said.
According to him, “Some INEC officials ran to my house for shelter because they felt it will be safer and I told them they cannot stay in my compound with those sensitive materials. But they told me that they will kill us. The Corps members were crying and begging, saying daddy don’t allow them to kill us”
“Right away I called the police, the DPO here and told them` your people are here come and rescue them because I felt those who pursued them will still come for them if something is not done. After a while the DPO had to come in with the army and police to take the materials intact.”
“I have not met the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Okey Ezeani, but I got an unknown phone call which turned out to be from him today thanking me for what I did, saving the lives of his officials and preserving the electoral materials. I am a father, I have my children and I would not sit down and allow people be killed in my house,” the former governor stated.
