Incident at Onitsha Road Checkpoint
A tense situation unfolded on Sunday when police officers were shot and injured by soldiers at a military checkpoint along Onitsha Road in Anambra State. According to reports, the incident occurred as the officers were returning from their official duties following the recent governorship election in the southeastern state.
The confrontation reportedly began due to an argument between the police and the soldiers. A video seen by our reporter shows some police officers attempting to rescue a shirtless man, believed to be one of their colleagues who had been shot. In the footage, the officers are using a piece of cloth to try to stop the bleeding from the man’s chest.
One police officer was quoted as saying, “Happening now on our way coming back from Anambra State election, we had a misunderstanding with army personnel at a military checkpoint. Before we knew what was going on, they opened fire on us. One of us was shot directly on his chest, with many other policemen injured.”
Confirmation and Resolution
Ikenganiya Anthony, the police spokesperson in Anambra, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES, stating that the “misunderstanding” had been “resolved.” Mr. Anthony mentioned that the officer who was shot is “very stable” and reiterated that the issue has been settled.
However, the army spokesperson, Colonel Appolonia Anele, could not be reached for comment. Her phone line was unreachable, and a message sent to her remained unanswered.
Police Deployment for the Election
In the lead-up to the election, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced the deployment of 45,000 police personnel for the gubernatorial election. The election was won by the incumbent, Charles Soludo, who represented the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Mr. Soludo, a professor and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was declared the winner after securing victories in all 21 local government areas of the state. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Soludo received 422,664 votes, defeating his closest challenger, Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 99,445 votes.
The Labour Party candidate, George Moghalu, came in third with 10,576 votes, while John Chuma-Nwosu from the African Democratic Congress claimed the fourth position with 8,208 votes.
Election Observations and Concerns
Election observation groups, including Yiaga Africa, praised the peaceful conduct of the election and corroborated the results announced by INEC. However, they expressed concerns about voter apathy and vote buying, which they described as “a major threat to the credibility of the electoral process.”
The observers called for reforms to Nigeria’s electoral system to improve logistical efficiency and public confidence. These recommendations aim to ensure more transparent and fair elections in the future.