TheCable

The Independent National Electoral Commisslon (INEC) says members of its staff were abducted and raped during Saturday’s elections.

In a statement on Friday, Festus Okoye, INEC commissioner for information and voter education, said while the elections were generally peaceful, there was “high level of violence” in a few places in addition to “the subjugation of some of our electoral officials to threats, harassment, intimidation, assault, abduction and even rape.”

“The Commission condoles with the families of its ad-hoc staff who lost their lives while on this national assignment, as well as other Nigerians who died in the course of the elections,” he said.

“It also expresses its deep regrets and sympathy for all victims of this mindless violence. We stand with them in these difficult times.”

He also said the conduct of some security agencies in the elections is a matter of “serious concern”.

“While acknowledging their professionalism n the deployment of election personnel and materials in a safe and timely manner, the conduct of certain members of the security agencies in some states is a matter of serious concern to the Commission,” he said.

“This matter will be further discussed directly with the Inspector-General of Police within the ambit of the lnter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).”