By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
With the reports of attacks on innocent people especially none indigenes of Lagos state during and after the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly (NASS) elections, some Nigerians living in the state of aquatic splendour are calling on the federal government to provide them with adequate security protection to enable them to go out on March 11 to vote for their preferred candidates in the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
Engineer Mathew Dozie Njoku, a prominent leader of Igbo community in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, has called on the federal government not to take the threat of those threatened to unleash terror on none indigenes who dare to come out on March 11 to vote except they are going to vote a particular candidate.
Njoku alleged that such threats were made by some known persons including the Baale of Ikate in Agah, prior to the Presidential and NASS elections but nobody took it serious and later hoodlums reigned freely and stabbed, maimed and attacked many people across Lagos state.
According to him, except the federal authorities responds forcefully, the situation will be worst on March 11, pointing out that since the ruling party in the lost Lagos to the rival Labour Party, more threats have been made on none indigenes.
Also speaking on the threats, a Lagos-based businessman of Igbo extraction, Chief Afam Nnanyelugo, expressed fears that the hoodlums will carry out their threats except the authorities both from the state and federal put adequate security in place to avoid a repeat of February 25 election which was marred by violence in the most parts of Lagos.
Said he: “Social media has been awash with threats by some persons threatening none indigenes especially people from the South East with violence should they insist to come out to Vote for a particular party on March 11 Governorship and House of Assembly elections.in Lagos state”.
Chief Nnanyelugo cannot understand why hoodlums are having field day in Lagos on election days with nobody being arrested and prosecuted, stressing that federal government owes none indigenes in Lagos protection as they cannot be strangers in their own country and abroad.
According to him except the none indigenes are assured of their safety during and after the March 11 elections there may like be voter apathy as not many will want to put themselves in harm’s way in order to cast their votes for a candidate.
“At the end of the day those threatening to deal with none indigenes will succeed in scaring voters away. This is their plan except the federal government provides security for the citizens in Lagos state”, he said.
Prompt News reports that no election circle passes in Lagos state without hoodlums running amock and leaving in its wake tears, blood and sorrow as was the case of one Jennifer Edifi, who strolled with her daughter to a Polling Unit (PU) in Surulere, Lagos, but was attacked by suspected thugs who invaded the spot to scuttle the electoral process.
Gory images of the resilient woman, who returned to cast her ballot after receiving first aid, had trended on all social media and made it to the cover pages of major newspapers in Nigeria the next day.
Photos showed her face covered in blood with others showing a bandaged face after receiving treatment following an attack by hoodlums at her polling unit in Surulere, Lagos.
Besides the brave Edifi, many other people, some not reported, suffered one form of attack or other during and after the election just as Labour Party supporters were allegedly matcheted and others had their heads broken with bottles when the LP Presidential candidate Peter Obi and his party held Mega Rally in Lagos state prior to the February 25 Presidential election.
