Police in Kogi State said they have recovered a Sienna Bus used by yet to be identified gunmen who launched attack on the official residence of the state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Gabriel Longpert.
Spokesman of the police, SP William Aya confirmed the recovery of the Sienna Bus in a statement in Lokoja Friday afternoon.
Aya said the Sienna Bus was recovered in front of the Resident Electoral Commissioner ‘s official residence.
He, however, said the Sienna Bus was seen burnt to ashes at the frontage of the house.
The spokesman said the the attackers later flee the scene when they came under superior fire power of policemen on duty at the INEC REC residence.
Aya said the state
Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha, has ordered deployment of a Team of Tactical Operatives to the scene while a manhunt has been launched for the hoodlums.
According to him, the Commissioner has also ordered a thorough investigation into the gun attack on the Quarters of the state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner.
It will be recalled that the official residence of the INEC in Lokoja, the state capital came under gun attack in the early hours of Friday from yet to be identified persons.
The INEC had in a statement on Friday in Lokoja raised alarm over the attack on the residence of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner.
The peace of the state came under threat this week as a result of claims and counter-claims over the outcome of the November 11 governorship election and the commencement of sitting by the Off-cycle Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Lokoja in the state capital.
The Social Democratic Party had on Wednesday, November 28, Mobilised its members to stage a protest to the state INEC office to demand access to election materials and BVAS used for the conduct of the election as the directed by the tribunal.
The following day, Thursday, November 29, a coalition of youth groups loyal to the APC also staged a protest to condemned what it called intimidation, blackmail and harassment of INEC officials and security agents in the course of their respective official duties.
However, the situation took a dangerous turn in the early hours of Friday when unknown persons launched gun attack on the official residence of the state INEC REC .
The state police command confirmed the attack, saying it received a distress call at about 3:11am on the attack .
Spokesman of the state police command, SP William Aya said the
“unknown armed hoodlums stormed the Quarters of the REC, INEC and started shooting sporadically.
“The Police guards on duty at the residence engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel and denied them access to the premises.”
Aya said Commissioner has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to commence investigation with a view to apprehending the perpetrators and bringing them to deserved justice.
“The CP, while assuring the good people of Kogi State of the Command’s unwavering commitment to guarantee the safety of lives and property of all law abiding citizens, urged them to collaborate with the Security Agencies by way of volunteering credible and timely information on the activities of Criminal elements in the State to enable Prompt and commensurate response,” the statement said. (vitalnewsngr.com)
