Navy denies losing officer to electoral violence in Bayelsa

---

The Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy has clarified that its murdered rating in Brass Island, Bayelsa State, had nothing to do with the just-concluded House of Assembly election in the state.
The Navy made the clarification following claims by the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that thugs loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) killed a naval rating, who was on election duty.
The State Secretary of the PDP, Chief Godspower Keku alleged that the rating was attached to NNS FORMOSO and was escorting electoral materials from Egwuama to Brass when he and his colleagues were attacked by APC thugs.
Keku called on the Commander of NNS FORMOSO to make the murder public and go after the killers.
But the Navy in a statement signed by Commodore Joseph Daniel Akpan for the CNC’s Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), admitted that its rating died in Brass.
It, however, declared that his death had nothing to do with election-related violence.
The Navy said the deceased was on escort duty on board a ship at the sea when he and other crew members came under attack.
The statement said the rating suffered a fatal gunshot wound and was evacuated to a hospital in Brass where he later passed on.
The statement said: “The attention of the Central Naval Command, Nigerian Navy has been drawn to a publication about the alleged murder of a naval rating at Brass in Bayelsa State due to election violence.
“While it is true that the Nigerian Navy lost a rating, his death has nothing to do with election related violence or politics.
“The said rating was on escort duty onboard a ship at sea which unfortunately came under attack offshore Brass.
“He suffered a fatal gunshot wound and was evacuated to a hospital in Brass where he later passed away.
“The Command wishes to state unequivocally that personnel of the Nigerian Navy remains apolitical, resolutely neutral and will continue to adhere strictly to its professional code of conduct”.
Also the state chapter of the APC in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Doifie Buokoribo, said APC members were not involved in the killing of anybody.
Buokoribo said: ” The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State did not kill any Naval rating on election day. We have no reason to kill for power. We are not a party of desperate people.
“The Naval authorities have not told anyone that one of their men was murdered on election day. It is only the Navy that can account for its men.

“We know that the PDP and its leadership in Bayelsa State have an established notoriety for lying and fake news. But this latest claim must rank as the lowest of the low. The PDP needs to understand that even lying has its limits”.