The Delta State Police Command has appealed for information to help its investigation into a clash involving suspected supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area.
The command also clarified reports concerning an AK-47 rifle allegedly recovered during the incident, saying the weapon was not handed over to the police by anyone but was found during a search of an old building near where officers rescued a man from a mob.
The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe.
The police said it received intelligence on September 15 about a planned political rally and the possibility of a confrontation between APC and NDC supporters.
According to the command, both groups submitted written notifications for the rally on September 17, less than 10 hours before the planned September 18 event.
The organisers were advised not to use Angle Park, Warri, as the convergence point, after which they went their separate ways, the police said.
Commissioner of Police Samuel Erale subsequently ordered the deployment of officers to the proposed venue from 5am on September 18 to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
As tension increased during the political activities, additional patrol teams were deployed under a “show of force” operation.
At about 11:30am, officers reportedly saw a group of youths beating a man identified as Collins Egbara near an old building in Orumarho community, Effurun.
The police said officers rescued Egbara and rushed him to hospital after he was beaten severely.
The command said it had not established whether Egbara belonged to either political party because he had not been able to give a statement.
He was later said to be in stable condition.
Police officers subsequently searched the premises and found an AK-47 rifle.
The command rejected reports that the firearm had been handed over to police by a person, stressing that its ownership, possession and circumstances of recovery were still being investigated.
Egbara remains in protective custody while receiving treatment, according to the police.
The command said that if investigations establish that he was connected to the rifle or committed an offence, he would be charged to court.
The development follows the Delta State Government’s directive for security agencies to investigate the Effurun confrontation and prosecute anyone found culpable.
The government had issued the directive after videos of the incident circulated online, while urging political parties and their supporters to conduct their activities peacefully.
The police have now appealed to anyone with useful information about the clash or the recovered firearm to contact the command’s Police Public Relations Office.
The command also urged political parties, candidates and campaign organisers to notify the police ahead of rallies and other political activities to allow adequate security arrangements.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek to establish what triggered the confrontation, identify those involved and determine whether criminal charges are warranted.
