11,000 lost to electoral violence in 16 years —INEC

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Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday put the death toll arising from electoral violence in the country between 1999 and 2015 at over 11,000, saying the negative trend has assumed a dangerous dimension.
To this end, the commission called on security agencies to check the proliferation of small arms in the country to curb incessant violence during elections as the 2015 elections gather momentum.
Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC, Bayelsa State, Mr. Baritor Kpagih, who stated this in Bayelsa State on Wednesday during a one-day sensitisation seminar for officers and men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, said combing the nooks and crannies of the country to mop up small arms was a panacea for avoiding electoral violence.
Represented by the state’s Head of Voter Registration, Mr. Victor EgbonwanKpagih, he said: “We know there are small arms everywhere. If we look out for them we will be able to contain electoral violence.
“The NSCDC and other security agencies have a lot to do to make 2015 general elections a success,” adding that if statistics were available up-to-date, the number would have increased, particularly after the 2011 polls.
He called for good governance, enhanced security and responsible leadership from politicians as well as highly ethical reportage from the media as some indicators that would guarantee free elections.
EgbonwanKpagih said, “From the perspective of INEC, efforts to make the polls as good as possible began immediately after the 2011 general elections.
“Today, we have the best Voters Register ever in Nigeria. The voting process has been refined and streamlined, albeit the entire electoral process has been imbued with a large dose of technology that would help bring about a number of checks and balances.”
In his remark, Commandant, NSCDC, Bayelsa State, Mr. Desmond Agu, said his officers and men were fully prepared for the general elections in the state.
He advised his operatives to be wary of politicians, saying they should be guided by ethics of the service.
Agu said the command organised the seminar to sensitise officers and men of their roles as well as to assure the civil populace, eligible voters and politicians of its avowed commitment in maintaining law and order in conjunction with other security agencies.