By Kamil Opeyemi
The police command in Bayelsa State has arrested a suspect in connection with the destruction of some voting materials in some wards in the Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.
It was learnt that while voters had converged at the Ogbia wards 2, 3, 4 and 5 in the House of Assembly election, hoodlums suspected to be political thugs reportedly hijacked and destroyed voting materials meant for the wards.
Briefing newsmen at the Command’s Headquarters in Yenagoa, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Dankwara, said a suspect had been arrested. He stated that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other suspects linked to the incident.
Describing the area as a riverine ward, the police chief said the hoodlums were able to destroy some electoral materials.
“Though we have made an arrest, we are now going to get the remaining people and find out who must have sent them to do that. Anybody whom we find out must have sent them there, the law will take its course,” Dankwara stated.
“Before coming out, the Divisional Police Officer told me that they have recovered some of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) (machines).”
Dankwara also promised to embark on an assessment of the area to get firsthand information on what transpired.
On the measures taken by the state command in securing other areas of Bayelsa during the polls, the commissioner said the police was working in synergy with other security agencies.
The CP stated that other places in Bayelsa were relatively calm and peaceful.