Nigeria Polls:8 hours to elections, militants attack

Niger Delta militants attacked the headquarters of the Nigeria Police in Yenegoa, the capital of Bayelsa State on Friday night. According to security sources in Yenegoa and Portharcourt, the target of the attacks may have been the Bayelsa Government House, given its proximity to the Police Headquarters.

There are also indications that the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may also have been attacked by the suspected militants. Presidential elections are supposed to take place in the next few hours. There are fears that the attacks may disrupt the elections in Yenegoa.

Our investigations indicate that people have been fleeing Yenegoa, the capital of Bayelsa State for fear of more attacks by the militants. As at the time of going to press, no reasons have been given for the attacks. Our efforts to reach the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information did not yield fruits as he did not answer his mobile phones when we called.