News reaching CONVERSEER newsroom has it that a soldier posted for the March 18, 2023 Governorship and State House of Assembly election has shot 3 persons in Cross River State.
The incident happened on Sunday at about 2 p.m. at the INEC Collation Centre in Okundi, Boki Local Government Area in the Central part of the State.
According to an eyewitness, Edward Ncha, one of the victims died on the spot while the other two died while receiving treatment at the hospital. However, further findings by our Reporter revealed that the victim survived despite his intestines being spilt after he was shot at a closed range.
Ncha said the victims who were supporters suspected to be of the PDP invaded the Collation Centre to protest against the State House of Assembly election result after Hon. Hilary Bisong of the APC was declared the winner.
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“Today [Sunday] at 2 p.m. at the INEC Collation Centre, Okundi, Boki, where three youths suspected to be PDP supporters invaded the INEC office to protest against State House election result where Hon Hilary Bisong was declared winner, and in the process, argument and counter-argument broke out between supporters of the two parties; APC and PDP, and a soldier intervened to calm the situation when this man lying here [one of the victims shot at closed range] attempted to seize a military man’s gun – at that time, the soldier was left with no option than to open fire on the young man.
“When the other two youths (friends of the late young man) saw what has happened to their friend, they repatriated to mobilise their gang to launch a full-scale attack, and immediately the soldiers saw a multitude of young energetic men coming toward them, they then open fire again and two others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to a nearby health centre. Few minutes after that, a report came that the two boys later died”, Ncha disclosed.
At the time of the incident, Ncha said the Local Government was boiling, adding that “I am at Okundi where the INEC office is and the unfortunate action took place. I need to leave here to Ogoja as the road to Irruan, my home town has been blocked by gunmen on one side and soldiers on the other side”.
CONVERSEER reported that one person was shot dead by soldiers in Mbube, Ogoja Local Government Area, Northern Senatorial District while an INEC ad-hoc staff was shot on her way to conduct election in Bakassi Local Government Area in the Southern part of the State.
