Residents of the Southern Ijaw local council of Bayelsa state
have started fleeing to neighbouring states ahead of the rescheduled
governorship election in the area which is held tomorrow.
This is as a result of the magnitude of violence that took place during the December 5 election.
The Guardian reports that many are scared that the violence will be much worse even than previously, and that security forces deployed in the area will not be able to control it.
People are not impressed with assurances by the security agencies, which include the police and military, that they will protect property and lives in the area.
One of the residents said: “What can 5,000 policemen do? With the kind of weapons in the area, the policemen would all run for their lives when the shooting starts. Some of the policemen would come with batons and most would be unarmed. Do you think this is a kindergarten stuff?
“We are talking about a full-scale war with all the attendant side effects that come with it. We don’t even believe there will be any election on Saturday. Starting from Friday (today) evening, there will be shootings and killings, all over the place. Who will come out to vote on Saturday?
“How many people do you see here coming from outside this area? You are the only one, I have seen. You said you were a journalist? Well, I admire your guts, but if you know what is good for you, you had better go back, or will they pay for your dead body in Lagos?”
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This is as a result of the magnitude of violence that took place during the December 5 election.
The Guardian reports that many are scared that the violence will be much worse even than previously, and that security forces deployed in the area will not be able to control it.
People are not impressed with assurances by the security agencies, which include the police and military, that they will protect property and lives in the area.
One of the residents said: “What can 5,000 policemen do? With the kind of weapons in the area, the policemen would all run for their lives when the shooting starts. Some of the policemen would come with batons and most would be unarmed. Do you think this is a kindergarten stuff?
“We are talking about a full-scale war with all the attendant side effects that come with it. We don’t even believe there will be any election on Saturday. Starting from Friday (today) evening, there will be shootings and killings, all over the place. Who will come out to vote on Saturday?
“How many people do you see here coming from outside this area? You are the only one, I have seen. You said you were a journalist? Well, I admire your guts, but if you know what is good for you, you had better go back, or will they pay for your dead body in Lagos?”
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