Soldiers intercept truck with 3,600 INEC ballot boxes in Ogun

The Nigerian Army yesterday, intercepted a truck loaded with
about 3,600 ballot boxes belonging to the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) along the Ijebu Ode-
Sagamu-Benin Expressway in Ogun State.
Soldiers from 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, serving
with the anti-crime outfit, “OP MESA”, who were on stop-
and- search exercise around the Sagamu axis, were said to
have confiscated the truck and arrested the driver.
A source at Ijebu Ode, where the truck and the ballot boxes
were handed over to the police, told our correspondent that
the vehicle was a 40-feet container.
Confirming the development, the state Police Public Relations
Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said in Abeokuta that some INEC
officials and Sea Port personnel in Lagos had called to claim
that the boxes belonged to the electoral body.
Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police explained that the
officials stated that the boxes were being transported for
delivery to the INEC office in Akwa Ibom State.
“This morning, at about 8a.m, a team of soldiers attached to
the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, who were on stop-
and-search, “OP MESA” around the Odogbolu area of the
Sagamu – Ijebu Ode-Benin Expressway intercepted a vehicle
conveying about 3, 600 ballot boxes.
“Upon interception, when they could not ascertain the
authenticity of the ballot boxes, they handed them over to the
police at Ijebu Ode area command.
“Police thereafter, commenced investigations into the matter.
As I speak with you, we have the 3, 600 ballot boxes
belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Information we have
about the consignment as I am talking with you now, is that
some INEC officials have called and some officials from Wharf
to confirm that the consignment belongs to INEC and that the
ballot boxes are meant to be delivered at INEC office in Akwa
Ibom State,” he said.
The PPRO said the police would continue investigations with a
view to getting to the root of the matter and establishing the
origin and destination of the consignment.
He further stated that INEC officials had assured the police
that the contractor responsible for the consignment would
come forward with relevant documents to prove that the
boxes truly belonged to the electoral commission.
“We want to think, without mincing words for now that we
cannot call the ballot boxes fake or illegal ones.
The INEC official that spoke with the police said the
contractor who is to deliver the item would come to the police
to deliver the relevant documents to clarify this.
“So, the items are still with us at this command; we are
waiting for the necessary documents to ascertain the claims
of INEC or the so-called agent,” he stated.
Adejobi however warned that the development should not be
misconstrued as the recovery of illegal INEC materials,
stressing it would be too early to jump to conclusions without
facts.
“Don’t let us say that we have recovered illegal ballot boxes.
It is too early for us to jump into any conclusion now, but the
information we have with us for now is that they are INEC
property, but we are still waiting for necessary documents to
clarify this.”
The police spokesman however assured that the Force would
take the necessary action if those connected with the
consignment failed to prove its ownership after they might
have presented their documents.
“However, if they cannot produce the document to convince
the police that these are genuine INEC items and ballot boxes,
we are going to do what we should do. But for now, the
matter is still fresh to jump into conclusion.
“So, by tomorrow, we are still going to do the necessary
follow up on the matter where the command will make an
official statement on it,” Adejobi said.
Five feared dead/mac
5 feared dead in Delta cult clashes
From PAUL OSUYI, Asaba
No fewer than five persons were yesterday, feared dead, while
several others were injured following clashes between rival cult
groups in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta
State.
Among those killed in the clashes which occurred in different
parts of the town was a father of three.
Trouble was said to have started when suspected members of
the Black Axe confraternity allegedly killed a member of a rival
cult group, to avenge a recent killing of their member.
According to community sources, two other cult groups
including Barga and Ero had allegedly engaged the Black Axe
in supremacy battle.
Residents of Agbor-Obi area of the town were said to have
scampered for safety during heavy shoot-out between the rival
cult groups.
The shooting was said to have lasted for several hours,
bringing economic activities to a total halt in the process.
Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command,
DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the cult-related killings,
however, said four persons had been confirmed dead, but
did not give further details on the incident and the identities of
the victims.
But, a community source accused politicians in the area of
frustrating efforts of security agencies to curb crime in Agbor.
He stated that politicians had always intervened whenever
cultists were arrested, adding that over 30 lives had been lost
since last year.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship
candidate for next month’s election, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who
hails from the area, stated that Agbor has always been a
flashpoint because of its confluence nature.
He said the security situation was not limited to Agbor,
pointing out that the challenge in the state needed a more
focused approach to deal with crime. He promised that his
administration would address it under the peace building
process agenda.
“It is unfortunate that what you see in Ika area is because
coming from all parts – north, Edo state, Anambra state and
even in Warri – you find out that the Ika area appears to be a
settling zone for everybody. Ika area is a kind of confluence
and you find that a lot of people want to settle there.
If somebody is being looked for in Benin, the easiest place to
run to is Agbor, from Anambra it is the same thing. Coming
from Uromi, it is the same and even from the Warri area,
everybody tends to aggregate into that confluence.
“It means that it requires a stronger and more focused
approach in terms of trying to ensure security. Security
strategies are what we discuss in public but I know that very
good attention will be paid to that area. There are many
things we intend to do in building peace and ensuring security
which I do not need to reveal,” he told newsmen in Asaba
Reply, Reply All or Forward | More
Soldiers Intercept Truck/mac
Soldiers intercept truck with 3,600 INEC ballot boxes in Ogun
From SEGUN OLATUNJI, Abeokuta
The Nigerian Army yesterday, intercepted a truck loaded with
about 3,600 ballot boxes belonging to the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) along the Ijebu Ode-
Sagamu-Benin Expressway in Ogun State.
Soldiers from 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, serving
with the anti-crime outfit, “OP MESA”, who were on stop-
and- search exercise around the Sagamu axis, were said to
have confiscated the truck and arrested the driver.
A source at Ijebu Ode, where the truck and the ballot boxes
were handed over to the police, told our correspondent that
the vehicle was a 40-feet container.
Confirming the development, the state Police Public Relations
Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said in Abeokuta that some INEC
officials and Sea Port personnel in Lagos had called to claim
that the boxes belonged to the electoral body.
Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police explained that the
officials stated that the boxes were being transported for
delivery to the INEC office in Akwa Ibom State.
“This morning, at about 8a.m, a team of soldiers attached to
the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, who were on stop-
and-search, “OP MESA” around the Odogbolu area of the
Sagamu – Ijebu Ode-Benin Expressway intercepted a vehicle
conveying about 3, 600 ballot boxes.
“Upon interception, when they could not ascertain the
authenticity of the ballot boxes, they handed them over to the
police at Ijebu Ode area command.
“Police thereafter, commenced investigations into the matter.
As I speak with you, we have the 3, 600 ballot boxes
belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Information we have
about the consignment as I am talking with you now, is that
some INEC officials have called and some officials from Wharf
to confirm that the consignment belongs to INEC and that the
ballot boxes are meant to be delivered at INEC office in Akwa
Ibom State,” he said.
The PPRO said the police would continue investigations with a
view to getting to the root of the matter and establishing the
origin and destination of the consignment.
He further stated that INEC officials had assured the police
that the contractor responsible for the consignment would
come forward with relevant documents to prove that the
boxes truly belonged to the electoral commission.
“We want to think, without mincing words for now that we
cannot call the ballot boxes fake or illegal ones.
The INEC official that spoke with the police said the
contractor who is to deliver the item would come to the police
to deliver the relevant documents to clarify this.
“So, the items are still with us at this command; we are
waiting for the necessary documents to ascertain the claims
of INEC or the so-called agent,” he stated.
Adejobi however warned that the development should not be
misconstrued as the recovery of illegal INEC materials,
stressing it would be too early to jump to conclusions without
facts.
“Don’t let us say that we have recovered illegal ballot boxes.
It is too early for us to jump into any conclusion now, but the
information we have with us for now is that they are INEC
property, but we are still waiting for necessary documents to
clarify this.”
The police spokesman however assured that the Force would
take the necessary action if those connected with the
consignment failed to prove its ownership after they might
have presented their documents.
“However, if they cannot produce the document to convince
the police that these are genuine INEC items and ballot boxes,
we are going to do what we should do. But for now, the
matter is still fresh to jump into conclusion.
“So, by tomorrow, we are still going to do the necessary
follow up on the matter where the command will make an
official statement on it,” Adejobi said.