There have been election violence going on in Nigeria for several years. The most recent was the three-day post-election killings, riots and arsons of 2011 which claimed lives, caused loss of property, disruption of activities, while property worth billions of naira were destroyed in the 12 northern states.
The 2011 violence started when supporters of General Muhammadu Buhari, who was the flag-bearer of the Congress for Progressive change (CPC) lost to the incumbent Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate.
The protests which led to the displacement of over 65,000 persons, took place in the northern states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara states.
This time around, elections will hold from next week. Following provocative comments by the politicians and the actions of their supporters, Abuja residents feel strongly that the violence of 2011 is likely to repeat in the 2015 elections.
As a result, there is tension, and apprehension among the people. While some non-indigenes living in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other places in the North are migrating to their native places, others that cannot leave are busy stockpiling foodstuffs in readiness for any eventuality. Some of them who spoke to Abuja Metro have said they would stay indoors during the period. The expressed the imperative to make provisions for their families while they await the outcome of the elections.
#PrayforNigeria#
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