Anxious Nigerians await poll results amid tight security

LAGOS – At least 21 people were killed during Saturday’s state governorship and parliamentary polls across Nigeria, a senior police officer said yesterday.

“We have about 21 persons killed including some police officers while trying to protect INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) officers, Police Inspector General Sunday Ehindero told Radio Nigeria. “Of course we have some wounded too – about 14.We have some arms recovered.We have about 218 suspects arrested,” he added.The news came as Nigerian awaited, with some degree of anxiety, the results of the elections, amid fears that the news in some states such as Lagos could trigger violent incidents.The first results could be announced in early afternoon, said Philip Umeadi, an official from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”The late start in many polling stations has led to a delay in the announcement of results”, Umeadi told journalists.Saturday’s vote was marked by a number of incidents that the European Union observer mission called ‘worrisome’.Local media gave wildly differing figures for Saturday’s casualties but all were much higher than the official police figures.Media estimates ranged from just over 40 to more than 130.Ehindero said on the radio broadcast that his figure of 21 could yet rise and that they were investigating a range of crimes.”We have 87 cases reported throughout the country, including arson, murder cases, thumb- printing of ballot papers, etc.,” he said.Security remained tight Sunday ahead of the announcement of results, notably in Lagos, where an AFP correspondent saw dozens of road blocks manned by soldiers carrying out searches on vehicles and individuals.Radio Nigeria also reported on Sunday the presence of soldiers on the streets of other large Nigerian cities such Akure, Abeokuta, Osogbo, Bauchi, Ilorin and Gombe.”We are deployed here to ensure a strict observance to security.We will only leave on the instruction of the officers who deployed us here,” a sergeant at one of the check points told AFP after a serach.Nampa-AFP”Of course we have some wounded too – about 14.We have some arms recovered.We have about 218 suspects arrested,” he added.The news came as Nigerian awaited, with some degree of anxiety, the results of the elections, amid fears that the news in some states such as Lagos could trigger violent incidents.The first results could be announced in early afternoon, said Philip Umeadi, an official from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”The late start in many polling stations has led to a delay in the announcement of results”, Umeadi told journalists.Saturday’s vote was marked by a number of incidents that the European Union observer mission called ‘worrisome’.Local media gave wildly differing figures for Saturday’s casualties but all were much higher than the official police figures.Media estimates ranged from just over 40 to more than 130.Ehindero said on the radio broadcast that his figure of 21 could yet rise and that they were investigating a range of crimes.”We have 87 cases reported throughout the country, including arson, murder cases, thumb- printing of ballot papers, etc.,” he said.Security remained tight Sunday ahead of the announcement of results, notably in Lagos, where an AFP correspondent saw dozens of road blocks manned by soldiers carrying out searches on vehicles and individuals.Radio Nigeria also reported on Sunday the presence of soldiers on the streets of other large Nigerian cities such Akure, Abeokuta, Osogbo, Bauchi, Ilorin and Gombe.”We are deployed here to ensure a strict observance to security.We will only leave on the instruction of the officers who deployed us here,” a sergeant at one of the check points told AFP after a serach.Nampa-AFP