Rivers State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said the assassination of two soldiers by suspected cult members in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area (AKULGA) of the state on Thursday afternoon has nothing to do with today’s rerun elections in the state.
Wike made the clarification yesterday when he played host to the Consul-General of the United States of America Embassy in Nigeria, John Bray, at the Government House.
Two soldiers, including a Major, were reportedly killed in the area by unknown gunmen during a patrol along Abonema (AKULGA) waterways.
They men were said to be chasing away criminals from the area ahead of the rerun elections when their attackers, described by Wike as sea pirates, laid an ambush along the sea channel and opened fire on them.
Wike said that adequate security and logistics had been made for peaceful and safe elections, adding that the people of the state were committed to peaceful and credible elections.
He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and security agencies to work within the law in order not to provoke violence.
The governor regretted alleged missing of the result sheets of some wards in the state ahead of the rerun polls, saying that the shortage was first noticed by vigilant of PDP agents.
He said the people of the state believe that officials of INEC and security agencies must not take actions that will engender violence during and after the elections.
“Rivers State is key to this country. Let nobody think that anything can happen to Rivers State,” he said.
He commended the government and people of the United States of America for showing interest in the election, urging them to spread their tentacles across the state to have a comprehensive idea of the rerun elections.
The governor informed the United States Government that his administration is supporting security agencies with logistics and finance to fight cult-related violence in the state, pointing out that the security agencies are bringing the situation under control.
In his remarks, Bray said that the team was in the state as part of international observers to ensure peaceful, credible, free and fair rerun elections today.
