Acts of violence and vandalism against traders and their shops in Oshodi, Lagos State have been reported, following the polls of 23rd February 2019. The reports have it that shops belonging to traders in the area were vandalised, while their owners were beaten up by thugs. Residents and business owners were however urged by the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences, to call the numbers 112 and 167, in the event of any disturbance or emergency within the localities. In another post-election development, the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, Imo State was set ablaze. The fire was said to have been started after the collated results from the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area for Okigwe Federal Constituency were moved to Owerri, the State capital. This will be the fourth fire incident involving an INEC office in recent weeks. Previous fires incidents occurred in Abia, Plateau and Anambra States before the elections.
2019 Elections: Death Toll Rises
Violence during the Presidential and National Assembly elections has led to several deaths according to recent reports, with the number rising to 39. On Saturday, 23rd February 2019, 16 persons were killed across 8 states including Rivers, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Yobe, Borno, Lagos, Kogi and Zamfara. Other incidents such as abductions of political party stalwarts and Corps members, occurred in several places. In a related development, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that one of its ad hoc staff, Mrs. Ibisiki Amachree, was shot and killed by a stray bullet in Rivers State. The shooting occurred when soldiers allegedly opened fire during an incident in Degema.