Nigerian Army in desperate effort to exonerate self from alleged bias in Bayelsa polls

President Buhari

The Nigerian Military on Saturday, commenced moves to clear itself of the smear from the Bayelsa Governorship election and claimed that some 17 suspects were arrested for violence that characterized the Dec. 5 governorship elections in Bayelsa in which its operatives were accused of partisanship.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Monday cancelled results from Southern Ijaw LGA and declared the Bayelsa election inconclusive.

The elections in Southern Ijaw was earlier shifted from Dec 5 to 6 and continued till the early hours of Monday Dec 7.

Domestic and Foreign election observers who monitored the elections berated the military and said in their joint report issued by the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) that the military disappointed Nigerians in their conduct in the Bayelsa election.

Brig.- Gen. Stephenson Olabanji, Commander, 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army who read out a press statement and declined to take questions from reporters left no one in doubt of the involvement and complicity of the military.

Olabanji who addressed the press conference along with Police Commissioner Nasiru Oki said that the election duty was coordinated the Operation Safe Conduct comprising all security agencies under his watch.

Olabanji said that despite the presence of the troops and other security agencies, some thugs armed with dangerous weapons tried to disrupt the smooth process of the election.

He said troops were deployed to all the eight local government areas of the state for the election, but noted that some flash points like Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor were more volatile than others.

“In Ekeremor local government Area, three youths were apprehended with suspected stolen 30 PVCs .

“Similarly, on 6th December 2015, along Olugbobiri River, a speed boat carrying 9 persons was intercepted carrying 5 AK47 riffles and some ammunition.

“The suspects were duly handed over to the Nigerian police for further investigations.

“In Southern Ijaw, troops met a highly tensed situation caused by members of contending political parties.

“There was also information on the high influx of arms into the communities particularly in Oporoma, the headquarters of the local government.

“Sporadic gunshots were later heard from Oporoma where it was discovered that unidentified rival gunmen had entered the community in attempt to storm the INEC Collation center and hijack sensitive materials,” he said.

The Commander noted that it was as a result of the action that led to the swift response by the Operation Safe Conduct to track down the materials.

“Consequently, there was exchange of fire which led to the arrest of 5 suspects and recovery of 5 AK 47 riffles and some ammunition, and the suspects also handed over to the police”, he explained further.

Olabanji also recalled how the election was postponed to the following day, 6 December, 2015 to enable the tension in the area to calm down, but revealed that it was the unfortunate and sudden appearance of one of the candidates that further fueled the already charged atmosphere in Oporoma.

He urged people resident in Bayelsa state to be wary of armed men who might be dressed in the uniform of security agencies without proper identification, while reiterating the commitment of his command to boost the confidence of the civilian populace.