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Tag: Violence

  • Supplementary poll: One killed, houses burnt as violence erupts in Taraba

    Supplementary poll: One killed, houses burnt as violence erupts in Taraba

    At least one person has been confirmed dead and houses burnt in Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba state ahead of the supplementary election in the Ussa State Constituency Assembly seat on Friday evening.

    Vice Chairman of Ussa Local Government Area, Hon. Rikupki Joshua, confirmed this development in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Saturday.

    “To the best of my knowledge, one person was killed, scores were injured and houses were burnt in Ussa yesterday (Friday).

    “But the situation is now calm and the supplementary election scheduled to hold in some units in the constituency is going on as planned.

    “We condemn this violence and hope that those behind the unfortunate development will see politics as service to the people and not a do or die affair,” he said.

    When contacted, the Taraba State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Alkasim Sanusi, said he was not aware of any report on the development in Ussa.

  • #NigeriaDecides2019: PDP replies APC over allegations of ‘planned violence’

    The campaign team of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed allegations that it is planning to unleash violence to thwart the ongoing elections.

    The spokesperson of APC Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, had alleged that the PDP is planning ‘overnight violence‘ in various collation centres across the country.

    Keyamo, who made the allegation in a statement Saturday evening said the PDP is planning to use political thugs for the purpose.

    He called on security agencies to be on the alert.

    However in a swift response, Atiku’s campaign reacted in a statement by a spokesman of his PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Osita Chidoka. The statement is reproduced below:

    Our attention has drawn to a low-quality diatribe from the APC as contained in a statement to the effect that PDP plans to unleash armed thugs to disrupt the collation process is rank hypocrisy to disguise their own vile acts.

    Tonight the APC has raised the spectre of the PDP ‘recruiting armed thugs to attack ward and LGS collation centres’ overnight. Let us put this statement into perspective:

    Who introduced INEC and the Card Reader and PVC system to create a more transparent electoral process? The PDP.

    Who in 2015 when holding all the levers of power ran what is widely agreed to be the freest and fair elections in Nigeria’s history which resulted in its own defeat? The PDP.

    Who oversaw the peaceful handover of power from an incumbent President to an opponent? The PDP.

    We would ask Nigerians and the world to compare and contrast our record with the APC and judge their book by its cover.

    Who unconstitutionally suspended the Chief Justice the day before he was due to appoint the judges for the election tribunals? The APC.

    Who put armed thugs on the streets in PDP strongholds to burn ballot boxes, suppress our voters and kill our people? The APC.

    Who allowed one of their senior party leaders in charge of Activate Technology to provide the upgraded Card Readers to polling units in PDP areas to slow down the vote? The APC.

    So why when voters across the country have expressed their preference in millions for Atiku to be the next President would the PDP want to disrupt the collation.

    So we demand that the President who has promised us and the world free and fair elections to call off his attack dogs or see his legacy sink to levels of opprobrium not seen since before the return of democracy to Nigeria.

    We recognise the common sense and intelligence of the Nigerian people to see through their subterfuge and nefarious plot and maintain their vigilance during this long night.

    The night may be long but if we all play our part the light of the new dawn will see us to a better land.

    Be part of history. #BeVigilant

     

  • #NigeriaDecides2019: Over 20 killed as violence mars polls nationwide

    …as INEC reschedules elections in Rivers, Lagos and Anambra States

    No fewer than 20 people were killed across the country Saturday as violence erupted during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The army confirmed six in Rivers State alone.

    Three of the victims died at different polling units at Okota, a suburb of Lagos, and three in Sapele, Delta State, two each in Bayelsa and Kogi States while one each was killed in Oyo and Zamfara States.

    The remaining two died on Friday during a clash between supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State.

    Sequel to the violence, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decided to hold fresh elections in some parts of Lagos, Rivers and Anambra States.

    INEC Commissioner and chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, announced the development said the move was on account of disruption.

    He said: “The commission has received reports of violence and ballot box snatching in some areas leading to the disruption of the process. We have asked the Resident Electoral Commissioners RECs and the Electoral Officials on ground to submit their firsthand reports in relation to some of these incidents. We are still receiving reports relating to incidences in some states of the federation but we have received reports relating to incidences in Akuku Toru and Bonny local government areas of Rivers state.

    “So long as the commission could not deploy in these areas, the implication is that voting did not take place in those areas and the commission will hold consultations with the relevant authorities and the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in relation to these areas and will announce the date when polls will take place in some of these areas, especially in relation to the areas as they affect the House of Representatives and Senatorial elections.

    “It is not only in Rivers that we had reports of burning of electoral materials. We have such reports from Anambra and Lagos States as well as some other places.”

    The victims in Rivers State included two brothers and a soldier.

    Sources identified one of the victims in Lagos simply as Peter. He was said to be a barber and was allegedly shot and stabbed to death at Powerline, Canal Estate in Okota by thugs who stormed the polling station in an attempt to disrupt the electoral process.

    Another was identified as Demola, a leader of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in the area who was lynched by a mob for allegedly denying them a right to vote.

    The identity of the third man could not be immediately established, but he was stabbed to death at Last Bus Stop, Ago Okota.

    Residents alleged that the thugs first showed their intent as early as 8am when they stormed the area threatening prospective voters.

    They blamed the police and soldiers for not acting on reports about the activities of the alleged hoodlums.

    An eye witness said: “Those guys were armed with guns and cutlass. We had policemen and soldiers here and I personally told them that those guys seated under the umbrella there were thugs and not voters in this area.

    “We told them to do their job by chasing them away or arresting them but surprisingly, the security people left. They only left one police van here and the policemen inside had just stick.

    “As soon as those policemen and soldiers left, these boys started scattering everywhere. They destroyed the ballot boxes but we were able to secure the presidential ballot box because we had voted.

    “They killed one barber and injured many people here. We called the police and soldiers for reinforcement. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials ran away for their lives. Soldiers later came to rescue them.

    “But why we are angry now is that the INEC doesn’t want to continue our election. They said they will not count our votes here and we have refused. There are police and soldiers here, so, let them count the votes of our presidential election. At least, they could not scatter that.”

    Some of the hoodlums also stormed polling unit 023, Ago Palace Way, and set fire to thumb printed ballot papers.

    However, the voters fought back and the thugs fled on a motorcycle.

    One of them was however unlucky and was subsequently seized with his motorcycle which was immediately set ablaze.

    The suspect was beaten and later handed over to the police.

    Ten others were arrested also at Okota.

    The police arrested nine other suspected thugs at Somolu, Lagos for allegedly molesting voters with charms, six in Epe, three at Ajao Estate, Lagos.

    Soldiers arrested two persons at Aguda, Surulere, Lagos.

    One of the suspects Yusuf, said a politician asked him to come to a polling unit for an unknown reason.

    Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) David Folawiyo and Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu went round the city to monitor the security situation.

    Leader of OPC in Okota, Prince Osipote, denied the thugs who disrupted elections in the area. He said they were not members of the OPC.

    Addressing reporters after a meeting with his men, Muazu said a total of 23 persons were arrested in the state for attempts to disrupt the elections which he described as generally peaceful in the state.

    He said: “We went round several polling units and it was generally peaceful. We had a few cases of disruption of election process. The most important was the one at Okota where few polling units were attacked.

    “Some hoodlums went there when election was ongoing and disrupted the process. We heard the rumour that people were killed but we went there and we did not see any corpse. The DPO did not see anyone that was killed.

    “In Okota, nine suspects were arrested. They came on motorcycles and 10 of these were recovered. Okota is a very large area and we cannot deploy armed policemen to polling units. The armed policemen were far off. That was why the hoodlums were able to strike and fled before armed policemen could get there.

    “It is indeed a breach of the restriction order. I wonder where they came from but the case is under investigation and we will find out where they came from.

     

  • 2019: Abdulsalami warns politicians over election violence

    A former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), on Thursday urged key political actors in Nigeria, particularly those seeking elective positions to do everything possible to ensure peace in the forthcoming general elections because “Nigeria is not a stranger to electoral violence.”

    He threw the challenge at the one-day peace conference organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Abuja, with the theme: “Peaceful elections and national development.”

    Abdulsalami’s caution was also echoed by former President Goodluck Jonathan and other dignitaries.

    The event attracted continental figures including former President of Liberia, Prof. Amos Sawyer; Special Representatives of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohammed Ibn Chambas among others.

    Abdulsalami said, “The period of election in the country is often tension-soaked because of the competition involved. Nigeria is not a stranger to electoral violence. Jonathan kept his word that his presidency is not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

    “He graciously conceded defeat, he saved the country from falling into political crisis. Nigerians and indeed, the world are praying that the election would be peaceful. Without peace, there would be no nation, and without a nation, there would be no election.”

  • US raises alarm, predicts outbreak of ‘localised violence’ during 2019 elections

    US raises alarm, predicts outbreak of ‘localised violence’ during 2019 elections

    …Lists Rivers, Borno, Benue, Kano as hotspots

    The United States Government has expressed concern that the nation’s general elections scheduled for 2019 may likely to be marred by violence.

    It said the conduct of the elections could have significant consequences for the democratic trajectory of Nigeria, West Africa, and the entire continent.

    The US, however, said the public disturbance that the elections would cause might not be “large-scale nationwide conflict” but “localised violence.”

    The US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, Tibor Nagy, disclosed this in his presentation during the US Congress hearing on Nigeria’s forthcoming elections in Washington DC on Thursday.

    The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Ben Murray-Bruce; and the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnena Ukeje, were present at the hearing titled, “Nigeria at a Crossroads: The Upcoming Elections.”

    Nagy, who is a member of President Donald Trump’s administration and his lead foreign policy adviser for Africa, said the Department of State agreed with the view that Nigeria’s 2019 general elections would serve as critical test.

    He said, “I can tell you from my impressions during my travels and my previous service in Nigeria that I fear there will be some violence around these elections, as has been the case with previous elections.

    “I do not anticipate large-scale nation-wide conflict, but rather localised violence.

    “We are already seeing increased tensions and polarisation as the election approaches. We assess that politicians are turning to narratives of identity politics in an attempt to improve their popularity, with potentially serious consequences for national unity.

    “However, Nigeria’s political system and society have weathered such tensions before.”

    Nagy said the US government took the risk of any loss of human life during the elections seriously.

    To this end, he said when he was in Nigeria, he asked officials from both major political parties to sign pledges that their candidates would conduct peaceful campaigns.

    He noted that the major candidates had now signed a peace pact.

    He listed states that might experience violence during the elections to include Rivers, Borno, Benue, Plateau and Kano.

    He added, “In assessing potential ‘hotspots’ for violence, we look at places that are historically volatile around elections such as Rivers and Borno states.

    “We look at states that are currently tense, especially if state-level politics are contentious like those in Benue, Plateau, as well as those in high-stakes locations with large populations such as Kano.

    “We regularly engage with civil society organisations working in these ‘hotspots’ and support their peacebuilding efforts. USAID programmes and our public diplomacy campaigns also support peace campaigns across the country, such as #VoteNotFight.

    “Through our YALI Network Nigeria campaign, Nigerians have made over 10,000 pledges to boost voter participation, reject violence, and vote with integrity.”

    On expectations and concerns, Nagy said the US government was monitoring and messaging – both publicly and privately – to mitigate a few key areas of risk that could jeopardise a free and fair process.

    He listed the areas of concerns to include potential attacks on the legitimacy of the Independent National Electoral Commission and the electoral process for political gain; intimidation and partisanship by security forces; and heightened insecurity, terrorist attacks on electoral institutions, or violence towards voters, observers, or electoral officials.

    Others are inability of large numbers of Internally Displaced Persons or persons with disabilities to vote; voter suppression, the use of armed gangs for voter intimidation as well as wide-spread vote buying that challenges the integrity of the electoral process.

    According to him, the US government will be watching closely for instigators of violence or those attempting to undermine the democratic process.

    He added that the US was helping Nigeria to strengthen its democratic institutions and processes through diplomacy and robust public engagement.

    While saying that the US does not support any candidate, he said the government “supports a democratic process that is free, fair, transparent, peaceful, and reflects the will of the Nigerian people.”

    Nagy said only Nigerians could determine lasting solutions and a path forward toward peace and stability.

    “2019 will be a significant year for Nigerian democracy – it has been 20 years since the country returned to democratic rule and this election’s youngest voters have never known a Nigeria without democracy,” he added.

  • What we are doing to end Shiites’ protests, violence – IGP

    The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Wednesday promised to put an end to the protests by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria that has left some people dead and properties destroyed within the Federal Capital Territory.

    Idris made the promise in an interview with State House correspondents shortly after joining others to witness the inauguration of the 2019 Armed Forces Day Emblem at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    “We have made some major deployments, and all l can say is that we want to appeal to everybody to cooperate with us to end these crises and by the Grace of God, we will bring the protests to an end,” the police boss said.

    When asked why security agents resorted to the use of maximum force to quell the protests, Idris explained that “the agents were responding to the threats against the security of lives and property within the FCT. It is our responsibilities to take care of security.”

    The IGP gave an indication that about 400 members of the group who were arrested on Tuesday would appear in court on Wednesday.

    “You know that when we make arrests, the next thing is to take them before the law courts.

    “We are going to take them before the law court today (Wednesday). This could be the Magistrate’s Court or Federal High Court,” he said.

    Idris also said the Federal Government was not ruling out dialogue with stakeholders as one of the ways of ending the protests.

    “We are liaising with major stakeholders, major religious groups in this country.

    “I think we need to do something to end these crises as soon as possible and by the Grace of God we will end the crises soon,” he added.

     

  • Police arrest 32 with links to renewed violence in Kaduna

    The Kaduna State Government on Saturday said 32 people had been arrested in connection with the renewed violence in Kaduna metropolis on Friday.
     
    Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Samuel Aruwan, announced this in a statement in Kaduna on Saturday.
     
    He said that the number of arrested persons over the renewed disturbances was given by the Police at the state’s Security Council meeting, adding that “these persons will be investigated and prosecuted’’.
     
    Aruwan also said that within the areas covered by the curfew, “security agencies thwarted attempts to destroy places of worship in Kawo and Hayin Banki.
     
    “It was also reported that one person was killed in Kasuwan Magani and another arrested with a weapon overnight while attempting to burn down the market there.”
     
    He announced that the government has relaxed the curfew in Kachia, allowing residents free movement from 6a.m. to 5p.m. daily.
     
    “The Security Council noted with gratitude the exemplary conduct of the people of Kachia who have remained peaceful while mourning the loss of a much-revered monarch.
     
    “In recognition of this positive contribution to harmony, the Security Council has directed that the curfew in Kachia be relaxed immediately, today, Saturday, 27th October, 2018.”
     
    He added that the council sympathised with residents over the inconveniences associated with the curfew, saying that it was imposed to save lives and was under constant review.
     
    “The Security Council noted the substantial compliance with the curfew by residents and welcomed the atmosphere of calm largely prevailing in the areas under curfew as well as across the state.
     
    “The Council commended residents for refusing to allow criminal elements to divide our communities and sow chaos.
     
    “It urged Kaduna residents to continue to cooperate with the security agencies to ensure that those who want a peaceful, law-governed society prevail over criminals who prefer chaos and anarchy.”

  • Lagos records 667 domestic, sexual violence cases in three months – DSVRT

    The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team says 667 cases of domestic and sexual violence were recorded from July to September this year.
     
    Of the number, Alimosho Local Government Area has the highest number which was not disclosed.
     
    Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, the Coordinator of the DSVRT, disclosed this on Thursday at Roundtable with NGOs organised by the European Union-sponsored Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme.
     
    She said: “The number of reports from the *6820# platform from July to September were 667.
     
    “There were 179 domestic violence reports, 201 sexual abuse reports, 143 reports on child abuse and 144 actual cases.
     
    “The local government area with the highest reports is Alimosho followed by Kosofe, Ikorodu and Ikeja.
     
    “From July to September, the DSVRT attended to 442 clients, 41 of whom were male and 401 female.
     
    “The statistics of the ages of the clients from zero to 17 years was 27; clients of ages 18 to 45 years were 378 and ages 46 years and above were 37.”
     
    Vivour-Adeniyi noted that the purpose of the roundtable with the NGOs was to create a synergy between the organisations and the DSVRT in fighting gender-based violence.
     
    “We need a forum to share our successes and challenges as well create a centralised database of NGOs,” she said.
     
     
     
     

  • Buhari condemns fresh violence in Plateau

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the latest violence in Jos which led to the imposition of a curfew in the Plateau State capital.

    In his reaction to the flare up, President Buhari said, “I am deeply worried about the seeming indifference to the sanctity of life by criminals whose hearts are hardened by evil.”

    The president recalled that through the last three and a half years of the present administration in the state, the government had worked very hard with various communities and clearly demonstrated that a lasting peace can be achieved.

    “I know it is not an easy thing. It is a very difficult thing. But the resultant peace achieved by the people of Plateau State should not be squandered. Every citizen deserves stability and development. Peace has no alternative. It is my appeal to all the communities in the state capital, and the entire state as a whole to embrace peace. Where there are differences, dialogue should be used to bring about understanding. There is also the due process of the law. Differences cannot be resolved by abuses or by bullets.”

    The president once again lamented that some politicians are promoting ethnic and religious prejudices for cheap popularity, despite the knowledge that such incitement could play into the hands of hate mongers.

    He said his administration would continue to engage with stakeholders to address the root causes of this repeated violence in Plateau State and other parts of the country. He however warned that no responsible government would allow anarchy to replace law and order.

     

  • Armed herdsmen violence six times deadlier than Boko Haram attacks – Report

    A new report on Thursday by the International Crisis Group (ICG) revealed that violence involving armed herdsmen was six times more deadly than Boko Haram in the first half of this year.

    The report then recommended urgent steps that the Nigerian government must take to stem further attacks.

    The ICG estimated 1,300 deaths linked to the farmer-herder violence within the first half of this year, adding that the dimensions of the attack have aggravated in recent months.

    “What were once spontaneous attacks have become premeditated scorched-earth campaigns in which marauders often take villages by surprise at night,” the non-profit think-tank said. “Now claiming about six times more civilian lives than the Boko Haram insurgency, the conflict poses a grave threat to the country’s stability and unity, and it could affect the 2019 general elections.”

    The report recommended that President Muhammadu Buhari’s approach to solving the crisis is acceptable but largely insufficient.

    The government’s “immediate priorities should be to deploy more security units to vulnerable areas; prosecute perpetrators of violence; disarm ethnic militias and local vigilantes; and begin executing long-term plans for comprehensive livestock sector reform,” it said.

    The report also found that the anti-open grazing statutes recently enacted by state governments in Benue and Taraba States also contributed to the escalation in latest attacks.

    “The Benue State government should freeze enforcement of its law banning open grazing, review that law’s provisions and encourage a phased transition to ranching,” the ICG said.