Two individuals are feared dead following a violent shooting incident that occurred during the Ijaw Youth Council election in the Abuloma area of Port Harcourt on Saturday.
According to The PUNCH, the election, organized by the IYC central zone to elect new executives, had been rescheduled to Saturday after an earlier postponement.
As the event was underway, it was abruptly disrupted when armed gunmen invaded the venue, opening fire indiscriminately.
The sudden eruption of gunfire caused widespread panic, with attendees scrambling for safety. Reports indicate that two unidentified individuals were hit by stray bullets amidst the chaos. The violence led to the immediate suspension of the election.
In response to the attack, the Rivers State Police Command has initiated a manhunt for the perpetrators.
The Spokesperson the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, condemned the shooting as “senseless” in her statement.
Although Iringe-Koko did not confirm any casualties, she mentioned that the state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, had promptly dispatched tactical units to the scene. By the time the police arrived, however, the assailants had already fled the area.
“The Rivers State Police Command is aware of the senseless and sporadic shooting in the Abuloma area during the Ijaw Youth Council Central Zone elections,” the police statement read. “The Commissioner of Police swiftly dispatched Tactical Teams to the scene, but the perpetrators had already escaped.”
Iringe-Koko further revealed that the commissioner had ordered a comprehensive crackdown to apprehend those responsible and ensure justice.
“Normalcy has returned to the area, and law-abiding citizens are encouraged to continue their daily activities,” she said, urging residents to report any suspicious behavior to the authorities.
When questioned about the alleged casualties, Iringe-Koko noted that the command had not yet confirmed the reports and emphasized that investigations were still ongoing.