Human Rights Group Releases Death Toll In Pre-Election Violence

At least 55 people have been killed in political violence across 22 states of Nigeria before the 2015 general elections, The Cable reports.

However, there are worries that there may be under-reporting of the death toll, with the killings taking place in all of Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.

Lagos, Kaduna and Rivers are ranked as the most violence-prone in this poll season, according to figures in the report by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

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The NHRC consultative will come as little support to security agencies which are already fighting insurgency in the north-east, long-term inter-communal and national conflict in the north-central, and aggression in the south-south.

In the report, named “A Pre-Election Report and Advisory on Violence in Nigeria’s 2015 General Elections”, the human rights group expressed alarm over the “bellicose rhetoric, a rise in hate speech, and a worrisome footprint of election-related violence”.

Over a 50-day period beginning from last December, the NHRC said it had received reports of more than 60 separate episodes of polls-related violence from 22 states “spread across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria”.

An indefinite number of people were also injured in the accidents. In 2015, the group said it has so far received 10 serious claims for inquiry or judgment from political parties, NGOs, legal doctors or private individuals The“all alleging election-related violence or hate speech”.

The NHRC reminded the federal government and political leaders of their responsibilities to avoid election violence as they could be brought to trial under international laws. It said the  Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, the media and the ministries also had responsibilities.

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Nigerians also concerned over violence:

The initial dates of the polls were shifted on Saturday last week, February 7, by the INEC citing security reasons, supposedly prompted by the army which said it would not be able to take part in the security preparations.

In the 2011 election violence, the official death toll was 943, for which nobody was put on trial. At least 700 of the deaths were in Kaduna state.

Despite opposition by some of the northern leaders, incumbent President Jonathan went on to sweep the predominately Christian south during the April elections. His main opponent, Muhammadu Buhari, as in the 2015 elections, won the majority of votes in the largely Muslim north. The election left the country deeply divided on religious and ethnic lines.

The day after the presidential election, held on April 16, Buhari’s supporters launched demonstrations in the streets of northern Nigeria. Mobs burned the homes, vehicles, and properties of ruling party stalwarts, most of whom were Muslim, and traditional leaders who were seen to have backed the ruling party.

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