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8 dead in Nigeria poll violence
LAGOS, Nigeria (Reuters) -- At least eight people have been killed in violence in southern Nigeria during legislative elections, according to a preliminary report by a group monitoring the polls. While commending the elections for being generally free of violence, the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (Idasa) said this pattern did not hold true for the oil-rich south. "The South-South zone has been badly affected by this high level of violence, intimidation, destruction of property, loss of lives and complete disrespect for the rule of law," Idasa said, adding there had been particular problems in the states of Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta in the Niger Delta area. Idasa said there had been five deaths in political clashes in Nembe, Bayelsa state, although another human rights organization said over 10 people appeared to have been killed. Idasa said there was "carnage in the area." "Roads and creeks were cut off and armed men with rifles and machetes were moving around," it said, alleging that election materials had been intercepted by ruling party supporters there and in other parts of the state. Azibaola Robert of the Niger Delta Human and Environment Rescue Organisation said the violence in Nembe involved three political parties: the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), the United Nigeria People's Party (UNPP) and the main opposition All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP). He put the death toll higher -- at over 10. Idasa said that three people, including one policeman, had also been killed in the southeastern state of Enugu, when the ANPP gubernatorial candidate's convoy was attacked. The police said just one had been killed. Governors' elections are due to take place on April 19, the same day as presidential polls. Voting could not go ahead at three polling stations in Enugu "due to intimidation by five armed men," according to Idasa. Idasa reported several other cases of election violence in Nigeria, mainly in the south, and said that "rigging is evident in many communities" in Bayelsa. Recently, the focus of violence in the Niger Delta has been the oil hub of Warri, where ethnic clashes last month forced oil majors to shut down 40 percent of Nigeria's oil production. There was no voting in Warri on Saturday, but an INEC official said that ethnic rivals had agreed that the polls should take place on Sunday instead. However, one Ijaw leader threatened violence if polls are held in Warri. A protest by Ijaw militants triggered last month's unrest, and they still control several key oil facilities. Copyright 2003 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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