Nigerians on social media have condemned in strong terms the killing of Samuel Okonta, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member during the Rivers State national and state assembly rerun elections on Saturday.
The deceased, an indigene of Anambra State with call-up number RV/15B/5539, was reportedly shot dead by unknown gunmen in Ahoada West Local Government Area after submitting election results at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to which he was seconded.
His colleague, Anana Udoetor, who was reported missing but later found hale and hearty, narrated that trouble started when supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) engaged in a free-for-all at the election result collation centre in the local government secretariat.
“We managed to submit our results, but while we were submitting them, there was an alarm of skirmishes, forcing the collation officers to hide under the table,” Udoetor told ThisDay.
When the INEC office became unsafe, the duo made their way to Ndiama junction and took a taxi to Okode junction.
“We were supposed to board a (commercial) motorcycle, but we couldn’t get one, so we decided to trek down to Ukpeliede, Udoetor continued.
“Shortly after, we saw a vehicle coming and we noticed that the head lamps of the vehicle were not on and someone in the vehicle was pointing torchlight at us.
“We suddenly realised that the vehicle was coming directly towards us and before we knew what was happening, we started hearing gunshots. I ran inside the bush but they kept on shooting. Okonta was killed in the process.
“I stayed in the bush for some minutes and later ran into an uncompleted building which is used as a church.”
Pained by Okonta’s death, Nigerians across political and ethnic divides took to Twitter to express their anger.
I saw this comin, we live in a nation where our leaders value their pride and power more than human lives #RIPSamuelOkonta #NYSCulture
— Fictionary (@PhantomBABA) March 23, 2016
Would it have been possible that any politician’s child would be killed because of elections? #RIPSamuelOkonta
— A.B.O.G (@AbosiOgba) March 23, 2016
If our youths can be killed like sheep because of some desperate politicians, then what hope does the future have? #RIPSamuelOkonta
— A.B.O.G (@AbosiOgba) March 23, 2016
I can’t even begin to imagine the fear and discomfort NYSC members go through whenever they put on their uniform #RIPSamuelOkonta
— Uchenna (@Uchez2) March 23, 2016
We are tired of weeping.????????
How many more future leaders are we gonna lose to this violence?????????????
Please FG #ScrapNYSC#RIPSamuelOkonta— Kemi Ariyo (@d_problemsolver) March 23, 2016
INEC should be stopped from using corpers for elections. They owe them and have no proper arrangements for their security #RIPSamuelOkonta
— Ghost (@codenamemarcus) March 23, 2016
I served in rivers in dt same LGA #ripsamuelokonta lost his life…my experience of election was a terrible one
— OLùWà-Nî-SHóLà® (@Slim_TDH) March 23, 2016
I blame NYSC DG for deploying corp member for election and also Corpers please stop volunteering for the exercise. #RIPSamuelOkonta
— razaq lalas (@rlalas) March 23, 2016
Nothing happened to those that killed eleven corpers in 2011 election, don’t think they will also trial his killer too #RIPSamuelOkonta
— Chika Aniobi (@ChikaAniobi) March 23, 2016
Just wondering….If Samuel was a graduate of Fulani extract, would the president have responded differently? #RIPSamuelOkonta
— FAVOUR ONYEOZIRI (@Rouvafe) March 23, 2016
Those of u politicizing #RIPSamuelOkonta i hope u did same 4 d corpers dat died during 2011 elections, shameless pple!
— Bright Isaiah (@Blac_Beard) March 23, 2016
INEC can as well be using condemned criminals from prisons for their doomed elections rather than wasting innocent lives #RIPSamuelOkonta
— Chuxx™ (@ChuxxAjie) March 23, 2016
@gentleojay so you’re hoping someone’s death will serve your party’s wicked, avaricious purposes? Dimwitted pea-brain. #ripsamuelokonta
— Okelade Pelumi (@OkeladeElfaez) March 23, 2016
Is it a crime to serve the country? #RIPSamuelOkonta
— Kareem ahmed (@kreemsyworld) March 23, 2016
