Benue: Thugs snatch electoral materials

Some people dressed in police uniform were alleged to have aided some thugs to snatch electoral materials on Saturday in Kyado, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.

Our correspondent gathered that the thugs, who were in large numbers and wielding dangerous weapons, went on rampage as they carted away electoral materials, while leaving officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission stranded.

Similarly, in Ushongu Local Government Area, thugs were also said to have snatched all the materials for the state House of Assembly elections but left the ones for the governorship poll.

A source in the area said the people had earlier boycotted the primary elections on the grounds of insistence that the second constituency be restored before they would allow the elections into the state House of Assembly to hold.

Also in Tarka Local Government Area thugs carted away the materials meant for the elections and allegedly cut off the arm of a security man when he tried to put up resistance.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Prof. Istafanu Dafwang, said that he was informed that some of the electoral materials were later dumped and had been recovered.

He said the details were still sketchy and that he would give more information later.

Meanwhile, some alleged thugs of the Peoples Democratic Party were said to have shot dead one of their members at the polling unit of the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Terhemen Tarzoor.

Our correspondent learnt that the thugs engaged in an argument over the sharing of money and ended up shooting to death one of them, whose identity had yet to be established.

The Police Public Relations Officer for the Benue State Command, Austin Ezeani, confirmed the incident over the telephone and also said that more details would be provided later.

Voters in some local government areas in the northeast and western parts of the state defied heavy downpours to cast their votes.

Local government areas affected by the rains were Vandeikya, Ushongu, Kwande and Tarkaa but the situation did not dampen the spirit of the voters