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… Call on US, UK to Place Travel Ban on Perpetrators
By Amos Okioma, Yenagoa
The John Pofi Foundation, working in collaboration with the United States Nigeria Law Group (USNLG) and the Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Electoral Integrity, has demanded for a probe of the sponsors of election violence in Bayelsa State.
The groups also urged the United States of America and the United Kingdom governments to place an immediate travel visa ban on politicians who have sponsored, incited or executed violence in previous or present Bayelsa state elections.
The concerned groups called for a peaceful election in the state and read riot act to any perpetrators of election violence.
Earlier, a driver of Outside Broadcasting Van attached to Radio Bayelsa, Simon Onu, was killed and scores shot on Wednesday during an attack by alleged thugs on a People’s Democratic Party rally in Nembe Ogbolomabiri, Bayelsa State.
In a statement by Rev John Pofi, on behalf of the groups, “the violence in the state has led to several loss of lives and properties of innocent citizens of the state.
“This call became necessary, having observed events of the past few weeks, leading up to the governorship election in the state. Our worries are based on the previous experience in past elections and the inability of the security agencies to arrest the situation.
“We are seriously doubtful of the capacity of these security agencies to arrest the next round of terror that may be instigated by these same set of politicians, who have been going about, inciting violence across the communities in the state, while also recruiting militias to disrupt elections with impunity.
“This coalition is presently engaged in pre-election monitoring in Bayelsa State in tandem with previous assessments of the 2015, 2016 and 2019 elections in Bayelsa and the unprecedented level of violence witnessed in certain communities during the said period. It is fundamental at this time to remind the world that elections in some parts of Bayelsa have witnessed an unimaginable level of violence, sponsored by identified persons and unleashed on the innocent people of the state, leading to the death of many, with property destroyed.
“It is therefore alarming that despite witnessing at least three major seasons of violent attacks and violation of the fundamental rights of these innocent Nigerians, stakeholders including INEC, the Federal Government, the Bayelsa State government and other relevant security agencies have not acted on the report that detailed the atrocities and violations witnessed during the elections.
“As we speak, none of these perpetrators has been arrested or prosecuted, hence our call to the government of United States and the United Kingdom to impose a Visa ban on these known sponsors and perpetrators of violence in Bayelsa State during the elections. Incidentally, various reports on election violence in Bayelsa State captured audio and visual recordings and testimonies of the victims of the violence that marred the conduct of election in Southern Ijaw, Nembe, Ekeremor, Brass and some other parts of the state during the election.
“Harmless citizens were molested, attacked and harassed with the complicity of those that ordinarily were supposed to protect the 2015/2016 governorship election. The incidents recorded during the 2019 general election remain one of the worst and under-reported cases of election violence in recent times. Many citizens were murdered, scores hospitalized with gunshot and machete injuries, property worth billions of naira were looted, vandalized and burnt.
“The people of Peremabiri community in Bayelsa have since January 2016 become internally displaced persons (IDPs) in their own state and remain hostage to criminal elements mainly sponsored by oil pipeline surveillance contractors, reportedly funded by an oil multinational.
“The likely consequence is greater violence except urgent actions are taken. During the 2019 National and State Assembly elections in the state, political thugs aided by security agents invaded polling stations across the electoral wards in the Nembe-Bassambiri state constituency. Several voters, mainly women and the elderly people, were assaulted and election materials hijacked. Residents of this peaceful town were chased out of their ancestral homes to neighbouring towns as well as Yenagoa were they have remained IDPs ever since.
“The militarization and armed banditry of 2019, resulted in several casualties once again in Southern Ijaw LGA, saw the murder of two party agents, including Mr Reginald Dei, a photographer attached to the Bayelsa State Government House. He was allegedly killed in his bedroom by political opponents aided by men in army uniforms, who stormed his Oweikorogha community in Southern Ijaw local government area during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
“It is instructive to bring to our remembrance the ugly incident that occurred in Twon Brass, Brass LGA on Sunday, February 24, 2019 when a serving deputy commissioner of Police, Kola Okunola, was abducted, brutalized and nearly killed during the elections. A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli, was identified as the mastermind of this grave incident and was arrested by the police. His punishment for this act is to seat among ‘Honourable’ members in the House of Representatives.
“Till date, these wounds are yet to heal, as the people do not only feel abandoned on a daily basis, but have also come to a conclusion that the perpetrators of electoral violence are untouchable. This is a narrative which we intend to change without further delay by ensuring that justice is appropriately served. Therefore, today, we are demanding that the perpetrators of these ignoble acts are made to account for their previous actions. We can no longer continue to reward perpetrators of crime against humanity, many of whom have found their way into government today.
“This is the only way to prevent future occurrence of such incidents as well as strengthen the nation’s democracy.
What were witnessed in Bayelsa during the previous elections were well orchestrated attacks against the people of the state. These actors are preparing for a repeat and the only way to checkmate it is to prosecute the perpetrators of the previous action. “We hereby call on all patriotic Nigerians, leaders and members of the International community to join us as we commence this new phase of seeking justice for these victims of the senseless act of political desperation.
“Our democracy will continue to be endangered until we ensure that desperate politicians are made to answer for their deeds. Prosecuting the perpetrators of the unprecedented violence witnessed during the 2015/2016 Bayelsa governorship election and the 2019 general elections will send a strong warning and deter others from perpetrating such in future,” the group said.
