By Abasi Ita , Calabar
Collation of Governorship and House of Assembly elections result were disrupted while electoral officials scampered for safety when armed thugs invaded the premises of Independent National Electoral Commission Office, Ogoja early hours of Sunday.
The hoodlums who brandished various weapons successfully halted collation process while some INEC electoral materials including result sheets from the opposition strongholds were carted away.
Narrating his ordeal ,the Electoral Officer in charge of Ogoja, Peter Kolo said the yet to be Identified attackers carted result sheets and other items away while some adhoc staff were injured in the mayhem.
On his part,, the Ogoja State
Constituency Collation Officer, Timothy Ellah said the attackers gained access to the Collation Centre after overpowering the security personnel on duty.before proceeding to beat everyone around to stupor before making away with some sensitive materials.
Recounting the sad episode, the Governorship Collation Officer for Ogoja Prof.John Undie disclosed that he had to run for his dear life while others took to their heels for safely.
He said that original copies of records were still intact, assuring that the incident will not affect the outcome of the polls.
One of the injured personal,, Dr Paul Bassey Inyang of the University of Calabar and Collation Officer, Mbube East 1 narrated that over 30 armed with clubs, machete and guns lunched a surprise attack on the INEC, leaving him with a deep cut on his head.
He stated that he and others who sustained various degree of injuries were rushed to the Police Clinic, Ogoja for treatment.
According to him, the attackers seized duplicate copies of result sheets, phone laptop and that has left him depressed and sick.
The Police Public Relation Officer, Cross River State Command, Ireen Ugbo, who confirmed the incident said several arrests have been made in that regard.