Benue: Military arrest Ado Council Chairman, Oche, thugs for ballot box snatching

By Abdulateef Bamgbose

Troops of the Nigerian Military have reportedly arrested the Chairman of Ado Local Government Council of Benue, James Oche, alongside some thugs for alleged election malpractice and violence during Saturday’s polls.

It was gathered that the Council Boss led the hoodlums in 2 buses to Apa ward in Agila district of the council, to destroy three polling units, believed to be the strongholds of the opposition.

Apa Agila Council Ward is the home and stronghold of the House of Representatives candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Philip Agbese.

The Ado Council Chairman is the Director-General (DG) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Miss Aida Nath Ogwuche.

According to sources, the Chairman and his thugs razed electoral materials at the affected polling units, including the BVAS machines.

The hoodlums were, however, intercepted by the military while carting away election results from the polling units.

However, a source told our correspondent that the council Chairman was granted administrative bail early hours of Sunday, 26th February, 2023, following the intervention of a powerful politician from the Federal Constituency.

Some of the thugs were also released while three others caught with guns are still in police detention at the local government headquarters, Igumale, as pressures continue to mount on the security authorities to free them too.

“They carried out their evil act in Apa Agila where they successfully destroyed 3 polling units with the Local Government Chairman practically burning down election materials, including the BVAS machines,” the source said.

“Some have been released. The Chairman was given administrative bail early hours of the day whilst 3 others caught with guns are still in police detention at Igumale,” he added.

Efforts made by our newspaper to reach the Council Chairman Sunday morning proved abortive as his cell phones were switched off.