Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery
Squad (SARS) in Rivers State have recovered
31 Electronic Card Readers (ECRs) believed to
have been stolen from the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The SRCs were recovered in a bush on
Rumuji-Emohua axis of the East-West Road
in the Southsouth state. They were allegedly
thrown into the bush by thugs who were
fleeing to escape arrest.
The thugs were believed to be working for
one of the major political parties.
SARS yesterday notified the Resident
Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Rivers State,
Mr. Obo Effanga, seeking for more
information and the cooperation of the
commission and its officials to ensure
detailed investigation.
A top official of the SARS in Rivers, told our
reporter in confidence on the telephone that
the hoodlums, who drove in a brown Toyota
Camry saloon car around 9am on Saturday,
were given a hot chase by operatives of the
squad, making them to escape, after
throwing a bag containing the 31 card
readers into the bush.
The SARS chief also revealed that operatives
of the police formation continued to search
the bush, leading to the later discovery and
recovery of the 31 stolen card readers,
which was revealed by intelligence as
perpetrated by political thugs.
According to the SARS’ top official, the
recovered card readers were still in police
custody.
It was also learnt that the hoodlums’ car left
Port Harcourt for communities in Emohua
Local Government Area of Rivers to perfect
their rigging plans, unaware of 11th hour
postponement of the Presidential and
National Assembly elections.
Rivers SARS, in a letter to the REC of INEC in
the state, with reference number: AR:3000/
RVS/SARS/RVS/VOL.8/272, dated February 16
and received/signed yesterday at 8 a.m. by
an INEC official, titled: “Investigation
Activities. Re: Stolen and recovered INEC Card
Readers by ASP Monday Mathias and
Team,”was signed by Rivers Commander of
SARS, Mr. Akin Fakorede, an Assistant
Commissioner of Police (ACP).
The letter reads: “The above-named
detective and team are serving members of
this formation and are investigating a case
of suspected stolen/recovered INEC’s card
readers.
“You are kindly requested to assist the team
in the course of the investigation. Attached
herewith are the serial numbers of the
INEC’s card readers for ease of reference.
Accept the best assurances of the Rivers
State Commissioner of Police (Usman Belel),
please.”
When contacted for his reaction through the
telephone at 7:45pm yesterday, the REC of
INEC in Rivers, said: “I am still expecting the
investigating SARS operatives to come to
INEC office in Port Harcourt, for further
details.”
The MTN line of the Director of Information
and Communications of Rivers PDP
Campaign Council, Emma Okah, who is also
the state’s Commissioner for Information
and Communications, was not available from
7:55pm yesterday.
When contacted at 7:59 p.m. the Rivers PDP’s
Publicity Secretary, Darlington Orji, said he
was not aware of the recovered card
readers, “talk less of knowing if they were
recovered from PDP members.”
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