Nigeria’s 2023 election served as a flashpoint for violence against local officials, election workers, and even voters. This is confirmed by a new report which named Nigeria as one of the world’s five most dangerous countries for local officials.
In 2023, ACLED recorded more than 2,400 events of violence targeting local officials globally, an 11% decrease compared to 2022. ACLED recorded more than 2,700 events in 2022, and more than 2,600 in 2021.
Most violence occurred in Western and Eastern Africa, with 243 and 219 cases respectively. Southern Africa recorded 84 incidents, Middle Africa 58, and Northern Africa 32.Nigeria’s cases were more than three times those in Sudan, where a war that broke out in April 2023 unleashed unprecedented violence against local officials.
“Frequent targets of these attacks are village heads, whose high profile makes them lucrative targets, forcing communities to raise ransom money,” the report says.India, Myanmar, Mexico, Colombia, and Nigeria were identified as the most dangerous countries for local officials, accounting for more than 40% of incidents worldwide, according to the report.
“The political and social tensions, along with the activities of armed groups and criminal elements, contribute to this volatile environment,” he adds.President Bola Tinubu, elected in last year’s election, had campaigned on a promise to mobilise “all assets within our national power to secure Nigeria”.
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