Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has condemned in strong terms the violence and its resultant killings in some parts of Rivers State during the rerun legislative election last Saturday.
The group in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, however, urged relevant authorities to investigate the roles of security agencies, political leaders and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the rerun.
The youth council revealed that information available to it indicated that more than 15 persons had been killed so far.
The IYC is worried that there was the possibility of more killings in the ‘volatile’ state with most of them being youths.
“The IYC is worried about the way and manner elections are conducted in Nigeria in recent times, especially in the Niger- Delta region.”
The group cried out that elections, which ought to be an opportunity for the electorate to elect their preferred candidates, turned out to be a battle ground and bloodshed in the region as recently experienced in Bayelsa and now in Rivers State.
It described the trend precarious and capable of building and contributing to another round of insecurity in the region.
The IYC frowned at the attitude of security agencies in the discharge of their duty especially the military, adding that this was partly responsible for the violence now associated with elections in the Niger- Delta.
“This is an obvious retrogression from the gains that were achieved in electoral reform under the previous administration of President Jonathan with Prof. Attahiru Jega as INEC Chairman. INEC should be transparent in its conduct to avoid suspicion which leads to violence.”
The youth group urged the National Assembly to wade into the situation and carry out a thorough and open investigation of the role of security agencies especially the military, political leaders and INEC in the violence that marred the Rivers State rerun election.
It added that military authorities must also embark on steps to discipline its officers involved or contributed to the killings.
It also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take measures that will bring the ugly trend in the region to a stop, adding that it portends danger ahead of the 2019 general elections.
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