The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesome Wike said Rivers state has concluded plans to drag the Nigerian Army, the General Commanding Officer (GOC) of Division 6 Major General Major General Jamil Sarham before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged killings in Rivers State, and manipulation of election results.
Wike said the GOC 6 led by Major General Jamil Sarham allegedly led his men to orchestrate electoral violence against the people of Rivers State, snatching election materials and criminally colluding with the ruling party of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders to concoct results during the Presidential and National Assembly elections. He said:
“We are doing a petition to the International Criminal Court. We are demanding justice for all those killed by the GOC and his lieutenants.
We will also send a petition to all the major embassies in the country on the atrocities committed against Rivers people by the GOC and his soldiers. We have also ready sent a petition to the Chief of Army Staff on the criminal actions of the GOC.
I have credible intelligence that the GOC has concluded plans to open fire on his convoy, with the objective of causing a deadly shoot-out.
Nigerians watched in utter dismay as three Local Government Electoral Officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) indicted soldiers of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army for orchestrating electoral violence, snatching election materials and criminally colluding with APC leaders to concoct results during the Presidential and National Assembly elections. Rather than respond to these allegations, the GOC is making diversionary allegations.
These weighty indictments of the officers and men of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army by the INEC Officials confirm earlier intelligence that the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6 Division, Major General Jamil Sarham is neck deep in the killings of Rivers people and manipulation of the elections. Mrs Mary Efeture Imawuya INEC Electoral Officer of Ikwerre LGA, INEC Electoral Officer for Emohua Local Government Area, Kenneth Etah and INEC Electoral Officer of Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mr Leo Okon who addressed the Rivers East Senatorial District Collation Centre at Elekahia were unequivocal in their indictments of the soldiers and their criminal activities during the elections.
The major problem they should defend is the INEC Officers who declared that the soldiers of the Nigerian Army abducted them, carted away materials and concocted results.
When the soldiers arrested the Rivers State Commissioner of Urban Development and Physical Planning, Dr Reason Onya for being among the approved PDP agents to escort materials, the Commissioner called me.
I requested to speak with the Officer to demand the release of Onya who was on legal electoral function for the PDP. The officer who declined to talk, called back later and I informed him that Onya was on a legal assignment.
In my capacity as Governor, I spoke with about 10 different officers when PDP official agents raised concerns.
The mischievous press briefing by the 6 Division is tantamount to a coup against a constituted authority.
The Army cannot be a judge in their matter. You cannot parade officials on legal Electoral duties. You cannot change the narrative. They have violated all known laws.
Mrs Mary Efeture Imawuya INEC Electoral Officer of Ikwerre LGA, INEC Electoral Officer for Emohua Local Government Area, Kenneth Etah and INEC Electoral Officer of Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mr Leo Okon who addressed the Rivers East Senatorial District Collation Centre at Elekahia were unequivocal in their indictments of the soldiers and their criminal activities during the elections.
The major problem they should defend is the INEC Officers who declared that the soldiers of the Nigerian Army abducted them, carted away materials and concocted results.
It was the soldiers and the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who abducted the Electoral Officer of Ikwerre LGA and compelled her to write results.” he said.