Gombe Police confirm attack on Ad hoc staff
By Chima Azubuike
The Commissioner of Police Oqua Etim, on Saturday confirmed Friday night attack on Independent National Electoral Commission’s ad hoc staff at Tudun wada Primary School.
This paper had exclusively reported that suspected hoodlums invaded the school where ad hoc staff comprising corps members and other participants were camped ahead of presidential and national assembly elections.
Confirming the attack, Etim described it as unfortunate, adding that the staff failed to get police protection but opted to settle in the venue earlier.
He noted that the command has made plan to forestall a reoccurrence, “It is very unfortunate, the ad hoc staff moved ahead of the security personnel and the material, that was the mistake they did, they were trying to go and settle in before other colleagues who were to go with the security team from INEC office.
Unfortunately the hoodlums took advantage of that but we have taken steps to ensure that such situation doesn’t occur,” Etim said.
While decrying the attack, the Commissioner stressed that they didn’t expect the incident adding that, “This has never happened, we have programmed that as they leave the INEC office as a team, they will be escorted to their various locations so that’s exactly what happened.”
Earlier, an Ad hoc staff, who pleaded anonymity in a chat with our Correspondent said they got clearance before arriving the school, adding that the hoodlums aside making away with phones, attempted to rape one of the staff.
“The police can’t say we just left that wasn’t possible. How did we know the venue? They don’t have any excuse for not bringing security please. They (hoodlums) took phones, cut three people with cutlass and attempted to rape before help came. So if worst thing had happened this is what they will tell us,” he said.
Lamenting further on the reason for going without security details, “My Presiding Officer called me and our Corper that INEC asked us to be in Tudun Wada Primary School, that we will have a class and also they will share sensitive materials to us. We also had the training by 1am despite the ugly incident
