The local government elections in Rivers State have escalated into violence, with reports of heavy gunfire in the Rumuepirikom community, the home of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike.
According to Vanguard, unidentified individuals entered the community ahead of the election and warned residents not to leave their homes.
When electoral officers were about to arrive at a ward in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, armed men, suspected to be political thugs, stormed the area, firing shots and causing panic. The attackers took control of the community, discouraging residents from participating in the election.
Reports indicate that at least one person sustained a gunshot wound and was rushed to a health facility for treatment. The situation has heightened tensions in the ongoing elections.
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