Scores killed in Rivers, Gombe, as blasts rock Anambra, Enugu

Tension heightened in Rivers, Anambra and Enugu states on Saturday following bombings, killings and arrests in some polling units.

In Rivers State, a soldier and two civilians were shot dead by suspected political thugs at polling centres in Ozuoha and Kpite in Ikwerre and Tai Local Government Areas of the state.

Sources said the gunmen opened fire where prospective voters had gathered for accreditation and that a bullet hit the soldier, who died on the spot.

Shortly after these incidents, the APC in the state alleged that scores of its members were killed, 100 arrested and many disenfranchised.

In Enugu, there was a bomb blast at the polling unit located inside WTC Primary School, Enugu North LGA at about 9am on Saturday as earlier reported. The source of the explosion which made many prospective voters to flee was not known as of 8pm.

In Anambra State, voters who came for accreditation in the morning at Ayomna Okpala Primary School in Awka scampered for safety following a bomb explosion there. No casualties were recorded in the incident but the school building was badly damaged.

One of the eyewitnesses, Chinenye Ibe, said they were shocked when the explosion occurred and disrupted the exercise.

Earlier, there was an explosion at Onitsha South which eyewitnesses said injured a number of persons.

The Women Coordinator, National Presidential Campaign of the PDP , Joy Emordi, said the Onitsha South blast was unfortunate.

According to House of Representatives member of Gombe North the Honorable Mailantarki, Boko Haram gunmen attacked the town of Dukku/Nduku, destroying electoral materials and killing 7.

Among the casualties is Mai Masallaci, a current State House of Assembly member and APC candidate for Dukku constituency.

Police have reportedly fled the scene, however local men were able to chase the Boko Haram gunmen away. Several locals have also fled the town.

Once Boko Haram was chased away, the accreditation and voting queues recommenced.

...Punch and ...SaharaReporters