RIVERS STATE: YOU MUST KEEP PRAYING EVEN AFTER THE ELECTIONS

The Nigerian Army has said its ongoing mop-up operations in parts of Rivers State has led to the discovery of cache of arms belonging to suspected political thugs in the state.

Commander, 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Brig. General Koko Essien, who disclosed this to newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the soldiers, during the mop-up operations, also arrested six persons suspected to be political thugs

Parading the suspected political thugs before newsmen, Essien stated that the operation was conducted in Ahoada Town in Ahoada East local government area; Ogbakiri community in Emohua local government area, and Buguma City in Asari-Toru local government area.

He said, “In continuation of operation to mop up arms and ammunitions in 2 Brigade’s area of responsibility, we conducted series of operations before and during April 11 elections in Rivers.

“On April 10, we got information of stockpile of weapons at Samroyal hotel in Ahoada East of which soldiers carried out a cordon and search operation on the hotel with discoveries. Two suspects (names withheld) were arrested at the hotel with two Pump Action guns, 41 machetes, 55 cartridges and with the sum of N300, 000.00.”

Essien, represented by the Brigade’s Commanding Officer, Intelligence Group, Lt-Col Bayo Lawal, said that on April 11 at Ogbakiri community in Emohua local government area, it arrested two suspected political thugs after a tip-off.

The Brigade Commander stated that the suspected thugs (names withheld) who intimidated electorates threatened to disrupt election process in the area, saying, “Subsequently, soldiers went after them and arrested two suspects with two AK 47 riffles, three AK 47 magazines and 41 rounds of 7.62 mm Special live ammunition,” he said.

He said that soldiers were able to restore law and order at Buguma town in Asari Toru LGA which witnessed deadly violent attacks by hired political thugs on Saturday, adding, “Our troops after a hot pursuit arrested two suspected arsonists who set ablaze a building in Buguma town during Saturday’s elections.”

The Commander said the suspects while fleeing from soldiers dumped their arms in the river, adding that efforts were ongoing to recover the weapons.