How my head was almost chopped off by thugs during elections - Bayelsa deputy CP narrates harrowing ordeal

- A Bayelsa deputy CP, Kolawole Okunola, has narrated how he was almost beheaded during the presidential and National Assembly elections

- Armed thugs had taken electoral materials to a hotel and manipulated them, before bringing back the manipulated results

- Okunola, who had been dispatched to the scene, was abducted and severely assaulted by the thugs who wanted him to direct INEC officials to authenticate the manipulated results

- He was almost beheaded before a message came that the INEC officials had gone back to authenticate the manipulated results

- The case is currently being investigated by DIG Frederick Lakanu who has vowed to identify, arrest and prosecute all those involved in the assault

The deputy commissioner of police in charge of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) in Bayelsa state, Kolawole Okunola, has narrated how he was abducted by armed thugs during the last presidential and National Assembly elections, brutally manhandled, and was at the point of being beheaded before rescue came.

A viral video had shown a terrified Okunola being dragged away by an angry mob, The Guardian reports.

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Legit.ng gathers that Okunola, who was on election duties when the harrowing incident took place, said he was seriously assaulted, and was at the point of being beheaded when he was rescued.

He said: “It was like what happens in an action film. They manhandled me, and I was attacked severally with clubs and was at the verge of being beheaded when I was rescued.”

Okunola, who has previously served in various parts of Nigeria, said he was invited to the scene after Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials had been attacked by armed hoodlums in large numbers.

The officials had arrived in Bassambiri community, Nembe local government area, with electoral materials.

Protests broke out in the area after the electoral materials meant for seven wards were reportedly hijacked by the hoodlums who took them to a popular hotel to manipulate results then brought back the alleged manipulated results to the INEC office.

Okunola said the armed thugs that earlier hijacked the INEC materials arrived at the jetty accompanied by a great number of armed youths while the group was protesting.

The thugs then insisted that the INEC officials must authenticate the manipulated results before leaving the community.

He continued: “Since I was on duty in the area, I was alerted to the scene after hearing loud noises coming from the INEC office. I later got to know that the noise was voices being raised by INEC officials and party agents who were having disagreement over election materials and results, which was escorted by party agents from Bassambiri to INEC office.

“While the party agents were arguing that there were no elections in Bassambiri, and wondered where the results came from, I tried to calm them down, and ask that they write their petition to INEC, but all efforts proved abortive.

“Then in order to avoid imminent breakdown of law and order by the thugs around, I informed the commissioner of police and he directed that both officials of INEC and the materials should be moved to the state capital, Yenagoa, for safety. This was agreed with the military officers on duty.”

Another officer then narrated that in the process, Okunola was attacked, dragged and assaulted by party candidates and a large number of youths who threatened to kill him if he failed to direct the INEC officials to go back to the office and continue with results collation.

According to the officer, Okunola was dragged by the mob to an unknown place, where he was subjected to threats, torture, and severe beatings.His uniform, including its accoutrements, were also torn to pieces.

The attackers later sat him down in a wooden box and brought out daggers and other dangerous weapons, in preparation of a beheading, in spite of pleas, and the intervention of an Army officer.

The officer said: “Luckily, while they were waiting for the final order by their leader to carry out their threat, mother luck smiled on Okunola, as a message came from one of them that INEC officials have gone back to authenticate the manipulated results.

“That was how they left the police officer and trooped to the venue to complete their mission.”

The inspector general of police, Mohammed Adamu, subsequently dispatched DIG Frederick Lakanu to Bayelsa, to investigate the incident.

Lakanu, while addressing senior officers at the Bayelsa Police Command, condemned the act and vowed to identify, arrest and prosecute all those connected with the assault, including their proxies and sponsors

In order to forestall any breakdown of law and order, the DIG ordered the reinforcement of officers to flashpoints in the state. He also appreciated the conduct displayed by the officers in the face of the obvious provocation.

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Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that IGP Mohammed Adamu decried the attack on DCP Okunola, as he ordered for the immediate arrest, comprehensive investigation and diligent prosecution of persons involved, no matter their positions in society.

The IGP, who described the incident as unwarranted and unprovoked, warned that under his watch, such brazen acts of impunity would not be condoned.

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Source: Legit.ng

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