Plan International Nigeria has condemned attacks on voters, especially girls and women, during the country’s February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.
Development Diaries reports that some voters across the country came under violent attacks by political thugs during the polls.
One of the attacks that trended on election day was the one involving Jennifer Efidi, who was left with a bloodied face and deep cuts around her right eye and cheek after a group of men attacked her polling unit with guns and other weapons.
Despite the injuries, Efidi refused to give up her right to vote. After leaving the hospital, where she received multiple stitches, she returned to the polling unit when calm had been restored and cast her vote.
She narrated that the men succeeded in disrupting voting, as voters and election workers scampered for safety and voting materials were destroyed.
‘We condemn any act of electoral violence and, in particular, the violent attack on Mrs. Bina Jennifer and other girls and women. We call on the security agencies to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice’, Country Director of Plan International Nigeria, Charles Usie, said in a statement.
In Nigeria, it is understood that women, who constitute nearly 50 percent of its population, as well as registered voters, have been at the receiving end of violent activities of political thugs.
Research has shown that violence against women is a tool that has been used to discourage women from participating as election administrators, voters, and candidates.
‘The women especially showed their resilience and proved that they are not just numbers to tick the box and must therefore be protected by all means’, Usie added.
‘Apart from the attacks on women, many men were reported to have lost their lives while some were maimed as a result of these acts of violence.
‘This also has serious implications for women and girls who are either forced to become sole breadwinners for their families or bear the extra burden of caring for the maimed family members’.
Ahead of the 11 March governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections in Nigeria, Development Diaries calls on INEC and other members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to put in place early warning systems and adequate response mechanisms to ensure voters at the polls are safe.
Photo source: BBC
