By Chizoba Ogbeche
Abuja
Nigeria Police Force has paraded five suspected ballot papers snatchers during the just concluded legislative re-run election in Rivers state.
The suspects are Noble Nwaerema, Dike Deinpiribo, Valentine Alalibo, Onwunari Warmate and Iloke Stephen.
Parading them before journalists, the Force Spokesman, Don Awunah, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) said sensitive INEC materials were recovered from them as well as one AK 47 rifle, one assault rifle, six magazines and 112 rounds of live ammunition.
Others were one green INEC branded bag, eight booklets of ballot papers for Emohua local government area, one booklet of INEC accreditation incident report forms, one booklet of statement of results and one blood-stained APC agent identity card.
He said that Nwaerema, 33, claimed he was hired by the Youth President of Itu-Ikwere community together with eight others from a neighbouring state.
Awunah said they invaded Emouha local government and carted away electoral materials meant for polling units within the area.
He said others who participated in the crime were at large.
The spokesman said that Deipiribo, Aldibo, Warmate and Stephen who belong to a cultist group said they were engaged by Hon. Boma GoodHead who procured two AK 47 rifles commissioned his driver to convey the weapons.
He said the suspects were responsible for several armed attacks that took place during the elections in places like Abonnema, Emuoha, Elele, Etche and Omoku.
Awunah said that some security personnel were for professional misconduct detrimental to the re-run elections in Rivers.
He said that some of them connived with some politicians to scuttle the process.
The spokesman said that a high-powered investigative panel was looking into the misconduct.
