SHAME AS PDP RALLY TURNS BLOODY AND ONE SHOT DEAD

The campaign activities preceding the crucial general elections have become both violent and bloody as some people have lost their lives in the process.

According to The Punch, a final year student in Fine and Applied Art at the Bayelsa State-owned Niger Delta University, James Eze, was on Monday shot dead by a suspected rival group over the sharing of money given to them by political party’s campaign team. Eze, in his early 20s, was reportedly gunned down few minutes after the People’s Democratic Party campaign train left the Famgbe community in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

                   

A source, who did not want his name in print, said the young man had engaged members of the other group in a heated argument over the largesse when he was shot at close range by the rival group.

It was reported that members of the PDP campaign team took to their heels following the gunshots as both groups engaged in a shootout, which caused tension in the community.

The source said, “We were at a corner watching the rally when money was given to the young man (Eze), but as the campaign team was preparing to leave, another group surfaced from nowhere and demanded the money.

“The young man refused to hand over the money and he was immediately shot first in the hand with which he was holding the bag containing the money and then in the chest at close range.

“His group members, who were taken by surprise, immediately mobilised for reprisal, which led to sporadic gunfire between them. No other live was lost but many were injured. I cannot ascertain the number now.”

When contacted, the spokesman for the state Police Command, Asinim Butswat, said he had not been briefed by the police divisional headquarters in Yenegoa, and promised to get back to our correspondent. He had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

Recall that there are series of warnings by security agencies against violence before,during and after the elections in the country. Political parties were also advised against monetitising their electora process so that people will be free to vote for the candidates of their choice. However, it very unfortunate that there is poor implementation of some of these directives as political parties and their supporters do whatso ever they like in the courseof their campaigns.