Gun shoots rent the air in Aboluma area of Port Harcourt on Saturday, as armed youths took over an election into offices of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, in the Eastern Zone.
It was gathered that up to 10 persons were shot and hacked with machetes and other dangerous weapons, with various sources claiming that at least four were confirmed dead while several sustained varying degrees of wounds.
IYC is the apex youth organisation of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, which spans the six Southsouth states and at least two others in the Southwest.
The fracas led to the disruption of commercial and social activities in Abuloma area of the city, with panicky residents closing shops and running for their lives.
A report stated, “Though some persons claimed that six youths were either shot and killed or cut to death with cutlasses, others said two were confirmed dead while others sustained various degrees of injuries.”
Ijaw sources said the election into the executive council of the IYC was rescheduled for Saturday because of disagreements among the stakeholders and other interest groups within the council.
It was learnt that there was discontentment on the modalities for the election, leading to the invasion of the venue by heavily armed men, who opened fire sporadically into the air.
Rivers Police Command deployed armed men and armoured personnel area to calm the situation, but by then scores of persons had already been gunned down.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the command’s publication relations officer, in a statement, confirmed the deployment of police to restore peace and order.
She said, “The Rivers State Police Command is aware of the senseless and sporadic shooting at Abuloma area in the Port-Harcourt City Local Government of the State where the Ijaw Youth Council, Central Zone were conducting their elections.
“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police Rivers State has swiftly despatched Tactical Teams to the scene, but before the arrival of the Police, the perpetrators have run into hiding.
“The Commissioner of Police has given marching orders to track down the perpetrators and bring them to face the full wrath of the law.
“Meanwhile, the Command wishes to advise all law-abiding citizens to go about their lawful businesses and report any suspicious movement to the Police, as normalcy has returned to the area.”
