The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed elections in Konshisha and Apa Local Government Areas of Benue State due to disruptions in the polling units.
The Public Relations Officer of INEC, Terka Andyar said the disruption was caused by “Lack of ballot papers in some polling units, destruction of election materials by hoodlums, and late arrival of materials to some polling units. 85 percent success rate was recorded in all the polling units were the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines were deployed so we are very happy”.
He told Voice of Nigeria that collation will take place at the ward collation Centre than at the local government collation Centre for the Senate and House of Representatives results declaration while the Presidential results will be at the state collation Centre, these will take place at different times of the day.
The electoral officers are currently reporting to the local government collation offices to submit all materials used for the election and turn in their results.
Meanwhile, Michael Kassai ward collection officer at Fidi ward collation centre situated within the UBE Junior Secondary school Makurdi, said 85 percent results had so far been collated out of 100 polling units under their purview.
On a sad note, gunmen suspected to be herdsmen militia have reportedly killed 13 people killed in separate attacks on three communities in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State in the early hours of Sunday.
Locals from the area told newsmen that the herders, who were heavily armed, stormed Tse- Lgar, Tse Magu and Tse Dudu all in Guma LGA. where they murdered 13 people.
A local who identified himself simply as Denen said that eight people were killed at Tse-Lgar, three at Tse-Magu and another two killed at Tse- Dudu.
Denen said that the attackers invaded the communities early hours of Sunday when the villagers were still in bed sleeping.
“People were still sleeping when they stormed the three communities at the same time and killed people. Eight people were killed at Tse- Lgar, three people were killed at Tse-magu and two others killed at Tse-dudu in Daudu. So in all, 13 people were killed and some people injured.”
When contacted, the Chairman of the local government, Mike Uba who spoke through the council Security Adviser, Christopher Waku, confirmed the attacks and said that 13 people were killed.
“Yes, some suspected herders, again, early hours of today, Sunday, invaded three villages; Tse-Lgar, Tse-magu and Tse Dudu all in the local government and killed 13 people,” Waku said.
As at the time of filing, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Benue state police command, SP, Catherine Anene said she was yet to receive such information.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to Governor Samuel Ortom on Security Matters, Paul Hemba, confirmed the incident.
“Yes it is true. Those who are wounded are currently at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, receiving treatment.”
Hemba stated that the casualty figures would have been higher if the security personnel had not responded swiftly to put the situation under control.
He said calm has returned to the area as security personnel have been drafted to the area.
PIAK
