By Uche Mbah
There appears to have been a spike in violence following the victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, at the February 23 polls.
Buhari was announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as the winner of that election. He has since been given his certificate of return.
Initially, there appears to be deafening silence after the elections, such that in the social media, there were worries that the celebrations were either low keyed on nonexistent. But that soon changed.
In Abuja, as soon as Buhari received his certificate of returns, supporters took to the streets in celebrations. Reports reaching the Magazine indicated that those living around Lugbe area, along Airport road were thrown into panic when supporters of the president trooped into the roads, blocking vehicles and harassing residents. Armed with sticks and brooms, they were said to have made vehicular movements difficult. Parents were rushing to bring back their children from school for fear of total breakdown of law and order. They were forcing people to do the “four +four” sign, and to shout “Sai Baba” before people can pass, after setting up a burn fire on the road.
In Lagos, the celebrations went awry when violence broke out as miscreants went on rampage in Okokomaiko area of Lagos. A policeman and two other people are feared dead in the ensuing crisis. In Alaba Rago, another Policeman was attacked when the same hoodlums took over the roads. An eye witness account, who said he was on his way to Agbara, said that the injured policeman has been rushed to the hospital. According to him, many people sustained varying degrees of injury.
According to him, trouble started when another group opposing their actions confronted them and fights ensued.
As a result of these attacks, which spread to Lagos Island, many Igbo traders were forced to close shops and go home. This has been going on for some time now.
In Ibadan, reports indicate that some Area boys were going around houses and shops belonging to Igbos and making them to swear to vote for APC in the forthcoming governorship elections. This has not been independently confirmed.
The Lagos state commissioner for information has sued for calm, saying that adequate measures has been put in place to protect non indigens. This was as residents of Ago Palace Way complained of the security situation in the town, saying that people could be forced not to come out and vote on election day.
Beside election issues, attacks seem to have increased in volatile areas of the north. Herdsmen attacks have ben renewed in Kaduna state and Zamfara state with heavy casualties being reported.
