Brigadier-General Stephenson Olabanji, the Commander, 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, on Sunday, said the military apprehended 17 suspects for various election offences during the December 5 governorship election in the Bayelsa State.

Olabanji also told newsmen in Yenagoa that the military played a support role to the police during the election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that INEC cancelled the result for Southern Ijaw Local Government Area citing violence while declaring the governorship election inconclusive.

The election in the council area was earlier shifted from December 5 to December 6 and it continued till the early hours of December 7 without a clear winner.

Olabanji, however, said the election duty was coordinated through the “Operation Safe Conduct” outfit comprising all security agencies under his watch.

The commander said that in spite of the presence of the troops and other security personnel, some thugs armed with dangerous weapons tried to disrupt the smooth process of the election.

He said troops were deployed in all the eight local government areas of the state, adding that some areas like Southern Ijaw Local Government and Ekeremor were more volatile than others.

“In Ekeremor Local Government Area, three youths were apprehended with 30 PVCs suspected to be stolen from their original owners.

“Similarly, on December 6, along Olugbobiri River, a speed boat carrying nine persons was intercepted carrying five AK47 riffles and some ammunition.

“The suspects were duly handed over to the Nigeria police for further investigations.”