By Paul Dada
Yiaga Africa, a frontline civil society organisation, has identified eight Local Government Areas in Edo as hotspots for violence.
This is coming as the state prepares for the governorship election on Saturday.
The organisation expressed its concern at a press conference in Benin on Thursday. Speaking for Yiaga Africa, its Chair of the 2024 Edo Election Mission, Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, expressed the concern that the political climate in the state had been tense and volatile.
She listed the affected LGAs to include They include Ikpoba/ Okha, Oredo, Egor, Ovia South West, Ovia North East, Esan East, Etsako West and Etsako East.
She said: “Yiaga Africa notes the tense and volatile political climate for the election. The campaign period was signposted with strong arm tactics and violence.
“The activities of cult groups and political thugs intensified amidst the proliferation of small and light arms. Yiaga Africa is concerned that politicians will politically employ violence and intimidation to suppress voters in specific polling units and LGAs.
“Additionally, armed groups and political thugs may disrupt
INEC’s deployment of election materials or elections at the polling units to influence the outcome of the elections.
“Yiaga Africa has identified eight LGAs as hotspots for violence. They include Ikpoba/ Okha, Oredo, Egor, Ovia South West, Ovia North East, Esan East, Etsako West and Etsako East” .
Abdullahi said there must be strategic and neutral deployment of security agents to the hotspots.
” The volatile security environment in these LGAs necessitates a strategic and neutral deployment of security forces,” she said.
Source: PM News
