Missing DDC Machines …Police Nab Ruler, Five Others In Bayelsa

The search for the two missing Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines deployed to Southern IJaw local government area has yielded results with the arrest of six persons which include two ad hoc staff of the commission and a community chief.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of the state, Engineer Edwin Nwatarali last week briefed journalists on the missing machines and the effort of security agents to locate them.

Briefing newsmen in his office on Wednesday, Engr. Nwatalari said the Commission acted on a tip off in effecting the arrest of the alleged perpetrators of the heinous act.

Those alleged to be involved, according to the Commissioner, are Ige Emmanuel Muyiwa, a youth corps member with registration number, BY/10A/0349, Kenneth Bonny, Ayaware Gesi, Igwe Nnamdi and Mrs Cecilia Brigidi.

Nwatalari said Ige was arrested at Chief Jarius Jobs compound in Kpansia area, Yenagoa local government area of the state while the remaining four suspects were caught with two DDC machines at the premises of the former member of the National Assembly, Senator David Brigidi.

According to him, an NYSC member, Ige Emmanuel Muyiwa, (BY/10A/0349) was arrested at Chief Jarius Jobs compound in Kpansia, Yenagoa with a complete DDC machine. This machine was meant for Ingbele Compound, Enewari town, East Bono 1 ward, Southern Ijaw local government area.

He stated that the affected chief alongside others had been arrested and handed over to the operatives of the State Security Service, adding that a similar incident occurred at the premise of Senator Brigidi where four people including corps members were arrested.

Describing the movement of the DDC machines outside the authorised places as an exercise in futility, the Commissioner said any data collected could not be programmed into the INEC data base.

He, therefore, warned that anybody caught would be made to face the full wrath of law, calling on the security operatives to promptly prosecute those already in their custody.