BY INUSA NDAHI, MAIDUGURI
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state and Senatorial Candidate, Borno Central on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), called on the people of the state to come out and exercise their franchise despite the early morning explosions and gunshots that erupted in some parts of Maiduguri Metropolis when some insurgents attempted to infiltrate the city.
The Governor stated this after he cast his vote at Kukawa Polling Unit, Lamisula Zabarmari ward of the metropolis.
This is even as the Borno state Police Command gave contradictory statement on the multiple explosions.
While the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Edet Okon in an early press statement said, “the sounds of heavy gunfire which engulfed some parts of Maiduguri were from the security for show of force, a senior Police Officer who did not want his name mentioned in print confirmed that “Boko Haram Terrorists operating from the outskirts of Maiduguri town, fired sporadic artillery shots into Maiduguri, ostensibly targeted at strategic locations, especially security facilities, to disrupt ongoing electioneering activities in the state.
Although, our Correspondent gathered that two Rocket Propelled Grenades suspected from the insurgents fell on the teacher village which hosts thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp with no any casualty, while the other Propelled Launcher which hit Bolori Primary School in the metropolis killed only a Dog.
in an interview after Shettima cast his vote at about 10:20am, expressed satisfaction with the massive turn out of electorates at the unit, he however appealed for the people irrespective of their political differences to come out and vote.
“I am calling on the people of the state, especially those who have their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) to come out and exercise their franchise.
” I don’t care whether they would vote me or not, but all I can say is to appeal and and for them to differ all odds, come out and cast their votes.”. Shettima stated.
He however said, due to displacement of thousands of people from Kala- Balge local government area by insurgents, where 80% of the displaced were taking refuge in Cameron, government has allocated alot of resources and logistics, by bringing them back to Gamboru Ngala to exercise their franchise.
“It is unfortunate that we woke up this morning amidst sounds of explosions, as usual, these terrorists who were looking all other means want to scare our people not to come out and vote, but as God will have it, the situation have been brought under control, the whole state is calm and people are trooping out to cast their votes. I am very impressed with the large turn out of voters”. Shettima’s stated.
Also, the Deputy Governor, Hon. Usman Durkwa who cast his vote at Bakin Kasuwa, Shaffa town in Hawul Local Government Area expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct and the orderly manner voters trooped out to exercise their franchise.
He also commended the efforts of the security agencies who were performing their duties with civility.
But the former Caretaker Chairman of Hawul Council Area, Dr. Andrew Malgwi, who cast his vote in MARAMA town, however expressed dissatisfaction with shortage of senatorial ballot papers in MARAMA/Kidang ward.
Dr. Malgwi said, only 5710 ballot papers for the senatorial race were brought into the ward, as against total of 8160 registered voters in MARAMA/Kidang ward, meaning that, a total of 2,450 would-be-voters are to be disenfranchised by INEC.
In an interview, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur, who is the running mate to the Gubernatorial Candidate of the ruling APC, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, told our our Correspondent on phone that there was a massive turn out of voters in Biu Local Government Area of the state.
Kadafur who cast his vote in Mbulamyel Ward of Biu town also commended security agencies for providing a peaceful atmosphere for electorates, adding that, there was no any shortage of ballot boxes or INEC materials as experienced in other places across the country.
He said even in some of the potentially volatile areas of Mandaragirau, Kimba, Mandafuma and other villages at the fringes of Sambisa Forest have witnessed a peaceful elections, as security agencies were deployed and took charge in those area in Biu.
Meanwhile, the Borno state Police Public Relations Officer in a statement said, the sounds of heavy gunfire which engulfed some parts of Maiduguri were from the security forces in an attempt to scare enemies/terrorists.
According to Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Edet Okon said, “Owing to the sound of heavy gunfire heard this morning around Maiduguri Metropolis, the Commissioner of Police Borno State, CP Damian Chukwu wishes to inform members of the public that there’s no attack on any part of Maiduguri and hence no threat to public peace and order.
“The gunfire were not targeted at members of the public but was for security purpose.”
But an unanimous senior Police Officer confirmed that “at about 0520hrs, suspected Boko Haram Terrorists operating from the outskirts of Maiduguri town, fired sporadic artillery shots into Maiduguri, ostensibly targeted at strategic locations, especially security facilities, to disrupt ongoing electioneering activities in the state.
“Some of the missles were said to have strayed into vulnerable locations like Teacher’s Village IDP Camp. However, no casualties so far, but 2 expended shells of mortar bombs were recovered at Teacher’s village IDP Camp, near the headquarters of 7Division Garrison.
“More details are yet to be accessed, but the election processes are not being hindered. We hear that the Military and police teams are on top of the situation.
The elections also went smoothly at Mohammed Goni College of Legal and Islamic Studies (MOGOLLIS), where IDPs from Abadam, but taking refuge in Niger Republic before they were relocated to Maiduguri for the exercise.
Speaking to our Correspondent, some women who lost their husbands in the menace of the insurgency expressed hope that who ever emerged victorious as President will come to their aide.
A widow, Mrs. Fatimatu Ali said, she lost her husband in one of the Boko Haram attacks in Mallamfatori, the headquarters of Abadam Local Government Area, adding that she is survived by four children, but had to leave the children in Niger Republic to come to Maiduguri and cast her vote.