*Citizens call for sack of all security personnel deployed to the area for sabotage
The police in Gombe State on Saturday confirmed an attack on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s ad hoc staff camped at the Tudunwada Primary School, in Gombe metropolis.
Mr Oqua Etim, the Commissioner of Police in Gombe confirmed the attack in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Saturday.
”They were attacked by suspected hoodlums. It is very unfortunate, the ad hoc staff moved with materials ahead of the security personnel. That was the mistake they made.
“They were trying to settle in before other colleagues who were to go with the security team from INEC office.
“Unfortunately the hoodlums took advantage of that. We have taken steps to ensure that such situation doesn’t occur again.
“This has never happened. We planned that as they leave the INEC office as a team, they will be escorted to their various locations.”
All attempts made to get INEC’s reaction on the matter failed.
All calls made to INEC Public Affairs Officer in the state, Mohorret Bigun, were not returned as at the time of filing this report.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that suspected hoodlums also stole cell phones, back packs and power banks.
However, several people who spoke on the incident called for the dismissal of all security personnel deployed to provide security in the area as the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and heads of other para-military agencies had boasted of hitch-free election.
They stated that it was only someone who had compromised the security that can far them in the manner they did, stressing that “if this issue is not resolved once and for all, by kicking all bad egg security personnel who would refuse to perform their duties, so long would Nigeria continue to witness electoral brigandage”.
Alhaji Hamisu Yaro said: “How can you say that with all that the IGP and his colleagues said, the security operatives deployed for the election will still look the other way and allow this kind of thing happen again.
“This area is the stronghold of a presidential candidate (name witheld) and so, I have no doubt in my mind that it was a collaborative crime with the security.
“This nonsense must stop. We the citizens will take up the duties of security during elections if they continue to prove that they only deceive members of the public about providing adequate security.
“The only way to confirm they are serious is for us to see and monitor how they punish all the security personnel posted to this area, especially those allowed to bear arms as nothing of this sort can happen if they did not collaborate to ge it happen. (Additional reports by NAN)
