The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has revealed that 58 persons have died in election violence across the country between December 3, 2014 and January 31.
In the commission’s 80-page pre-election report and advisory on violence in Nigeria’s 2015 general elections, which was presented on Friday by the Chairman, Governing Council of the commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, noted that the 58 deaths had resulted from 49 election related violence across 22 states in the country.
Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Bem Angwe, said the report, which is also an advisory to the government and key political actors, was part of the responsibilities of the NHRC in protecting the rights of Nigerians.
The commission however revealed that it would open an Election Violence Information Centre (EVIC) where reports on violence would be made and a commensurate action would be promptly taken by the commission.
The commission gave the call centre number as 08100000065. Odinkalu further revealed that pre-election violence had been recorded in 22 states of which 59 people were confirmed dead.
He gave the analysis as follows; Lagos State recorded 11 violent incidents with 15 deaths, Kaduna State recorded nine violent incidents with nine deaths while Rivers recorded six violent incidents. Katsina recorded two violent incidents, with Ogun recording one casualty, while Ondo and Bayelsa recorded one incident each with three casualties recorded by Bayelsa.
Others are Edo State, two violent incidents and two casualties, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja,one violent incident, Ebonyi also recorded one alongside Akwa Ibom. States that also recorded one violent incident are Kebbi, Niger, Oyo, Ekiti, Kano, Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau and Taraba.
He further noted that the death which occurred was either as a result of gun shots or severe wounds from machete cuts.
He also noted that so far, there had been 61 incidents of pre-election violence and 10 complaints, adding that the incidents recorded in 2011 were not as much as the present ones unfolding.
“This commission will make Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and General Buhari to speak to Nigerians, demonstrating that they also are Nigerians and that the election is between two brothers. “We will ensure that the message is played on every phone for every phone user everyday.
“We will approach Jonathan, Buhari, (John) Odigie-Oyegun and (Adamu) Mu’azu. Will record the messages together and it shall be played for all Nigerians to hear it.”
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