Kogi bye-election: Two killed, vote buying, interference mar exercise

Two persons lost their lives during Saturday’s bye-election for the Lokoja/Kogi federal constituency.

An alleged ballot box snatcher died after a pistol in his pocket triggered, killing him instantly.

It was gathered that the deceased was about snatching a ballot box at the NEPA area voting unit when he was wrestled to the ground by other electorates.

Eyewitness account had it that the suspected thug stabbed a voter who tried to prevent him from snatching the ballot box, while others swooped on him and stabbed him in the neck and he gave up the ghost before help could reach him.

The police Public Relations Officer William Aya,a Deputy Superintendent of police  who confirmed the incident said that the suspect was a suspected political thug who invaded the voting center with a view to snatching the ballot box but was overpowered by the partY supporters and got killed.

He however denied the knowledge  of him having a shot gun in his pocket which triggered.

He also said that the corpse of the suspect haS been deposited at the Federal Medical Center, Lokoja Mortuary,while investigation is on going to arrest all those involved in the killing.

Another suspected ballot box snatcher was beaten to death in another poling unit in the traditional area of Lokoja metropolis.

It was gathered that the suspect was the son of a house of Representative aspirant who declared interest just last month.

Eye witness account told our correspondent that the suspect  invaded the ward C voting center and attempted to snatch the ballot box when party supporters swooped on him and beat him to death.

The poling unit was in front of the palace of Maigarin of Lokoja in the traditional area of the ancient town.

The police PRO could not be reached for comments when our correspondent put a call across to him.

The corpse of the suspect was being prepared for burial as at the time of filing this report.

Allegations of heavy presence of uniformed police personnel and unaccredited government officials, particularly in Lokoja LG has continued to trailed the bye-election for the Lokoja/Kogi federal constituency.

Sunday Nation observed the presence of policemen, several of who were hooded in polling units, including Felele Pry School and Komo.

The post Kogi bye-election: Two killed, vote buying, interference mar exercise appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.