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Elections: Borno residents turn out encountered masse despite Boko Haram threat

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AHMED MARI,Maiduguri

Maiduguri residents came out en masse to cast their votes despite the early morning explosions and gunshot that rented the air across Maiduguri, the Borno State, capital .

The incident, which started at about 5. 45 am with heavy sound of explosion followed by Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) and artillery around Barracks area, Jiddari Polo and Bolori area..

Confirming the incident,, the Borno State, Police Command said: “Owing to the sound of heavy gunfire heard previous yesterday 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.”

The command in a press statement signed by its spokesman, DSP Edet Oki, said the CP, therefore, called on all qualified voters in the state to come out en masse to vote for candidates of their choice.

The commissioner equally assured members of the public of the readiness of the security forces to ensure a peaceful, fair and free elections in a safe environment.

Also casting his vote, the Borno state Governor Kashim Shettima, who arrived his polling unit, Alhaji Kukawa, of the Lamsula/Jabarmari ward of the Maiduguri, Metropolitan Council, cast his vote at about 10:45am.

A security source who does not want his name in print said “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.”

Our correspondent reports that some of the missiles were said to have strayed into vulnerable areas such as Teacher’s Village IDP Camp. But no casualties so far, but two expended shells of mortar bombs were recovered at Teacher’s village IDP Camp, near the Headquarters of 7 Division Garrison.

Speaking shortly after casting his vote, Shettima said he was impressed with the people turn out and the peaceful process of the election, sor far.The governor who was also a senatorial candidate of All progressive Congress (APC), Borno central urged people to come out en mass to cast their votes, even if they are not voting for him..

“i was impressed with the turn out of to come people., despite the early morning shooting. The insurgents want to intimidate voters not come out but thank God people have deferred all these” the Governor added.

He said “We have crossed the rubicon of the insurgency in 2015. Electorate in 16 local government areas cast their votes in IDP camps but today, only two local governments are voting in IDP camps, Kala Balge In Gamboru. Abadam in Monguno and some parts of Konduga”.

Speaking on the IDPS, Governor Shettima said: “We have sent vehicles to convey our people in Cameroon and Niger Republic to Gamboru Ngala, we have made provision of tent and food stuffs.. Believe me, we just want them to exercise their right. They have the moral obligation to create the climate for them to exercise their franchise and this precisely what we did.”

“We have over 54 ,000 people in Cameroon and over 20.000 in in Niger Republic. So, they have to come home and vote and any other person that wants to go back, he or she will do so”. he added

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