The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) says no fewer than 58 people have been killed in election-related violence in 22 states from December 3, 2014 to date.
Chairman, Governing Council of the Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, made the revelation on Friday in Abuja while presenting a report entitled; “Pre-election Report and Advisory on Violence in Nigeria’s 2015 General Elections.”
Odinkalu said that within 50 days from December 3, 2014, the commission had confirmed 61 incidences of election violence with the majority of the cases recorded in three key economic and politically significant states.
“In Lagos State, we have tracked at least 11 incidences producing 22 dead people for each incident, an average of two people killed over a span of just 52 days.
“In Kaduna State, we have three incidents and nine killings; Rivers State has six incidents, including the detonation of explosives and attacks on courts.’’
He said; “this degree of pre-election violence is unacceptable; we have seen too much blood and this must be stopped.”
According to him, “if this continues, it will lead the country into more trouble. So, this is more than a report; it is an advisory because it calls on all the leaders to rise to the challenge.”
He said the political leaders must send a loud and clear message to their supporters that the forthcoming election is not a call to battle but a contest among brothers and sisters.
Odinkalu also said that the commission had received 10 petitions for adjudication in relation to election-related violence.
He said that the commission had established an Election Violence incidence Centre (EVIC) to enable it collate information on election violence and seek intervention where necessary or ensure accountability.
