Prominent Civil Rights Advocacy Group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has condemned as “despicable, reprehensible, and totally unacceptable, the massive attacks by armed thugs that targeted non-indigenous voters in Oshodi, and parts of Itire areas of Lagos State. The rights group similarly accused armed security forces of compromise and being bribed by the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State to look the other way and let armed thugs working for the All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate allegedly to destroy polling centres dominated by largely Igbo-speaking Lagosians.

Quoting reports from credible eye witnesses, HURIWA recalled that scores of armed thugs besieged some polling units in the Oshodi and Itire areas of Lagos, setting some ballot papers and boxes on fire. The thugs, who were all dressed in black and masked, arrived the area around 11.30 am on Saturday.

The rights group stated that some voters, who could not run away when the thugs arrived were injured even as the armed thugs, later went round the area, minutes after some security personnel on election duty left their duty post.

“HURIWA is indeed shocked and absolutely disappointed that even when there were early warnings issued about these impending cases of violent attacks of Igbo voters in Lagos including a well reported call by this group to the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, the armed forces of Nigeria to take preemptive steps to stop the plotters who were stockpiling weapons to attack Igbo voters but these security agents actually got bribed not to act in line with the dictates of the law but allowed partisan armed thugs to give a field day attacking Igbo voters and destroying voting materials provided for the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission. This is clearly a well-coordinated plot from the highest quarters to deny Igbos in Lagos of their civil, political rights to vote as guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 as amended,” HURIWA said.

It quoted an eye witness, Tajudeen Haruna, as saying that minutes later, the thugs opened fire and scared voters away just as he gave further clarification thus:

“It was later that the thugs set the ballot box and some materials on fire.”

“Similarly, some thugs stormed Itire area, around 12pm, scaring away voters from the different polling units in the area.

“James Nwoke, alleged that it was a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise non-indigenes in the state,” HURIWA said.

It said it was suspicious that although there was heavy military and police presence within the Lagos metropolis on Saturday to forestall breakdown of law and order, but apparently couldn't protect voters in the Oshodi and Itire areas of Lagos State.

HURIWA in a statement by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, also condemned the killing during Saturday’s election of at least two people in Ndi Agwu community of Abam, Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, Southeast Nigeria.

Relatedly, HURIWA condemned the security forces for masterminding the harassment and intimidation of voters in parts of Port Harcourt who are forced to disclose who they intend to vote for. HURIWA said it is so unfortunate that the security forces in Rivers have become so compromised and bought over by the state government so much so that they are actually behaving like political thugs.

HURIWA whilst condemning all election day related killings, recalled that Nigeria recorded 339 incidents of election violence in 2022, which was disclosed by the Kimpact Development Initiative, a nongovernmental organisation working to advance good governance and democratic rights, said. The organisation said 165 people lost their lives as a result of political violence.

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