"Religiously-Motivated Violence Looms" - US Cautions Dokubo, Tompolo & Others Over Statements

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has cautioned former militants of the Niger Delta, Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari, Victor Ben Ebikabowei aka Boy Loaf, and Government Ekpemupolo, aka, Tompolo, over all the inflammatory statements that are being credited to them in the build up to the presidential election that is coming up next week Saturday.

The commission while making this warning in its latest report which its chairman, Dr. Katina Lantos Swett, made available to correspondents of the Department of State in Washington, DC during the week, added that such statements coming from the former militants who have been threatening wars if President Goodluck Jonathan loses the election, could lead to a religiously-motivated violence if proper measures are not taken by politicians and security agents in good time.

Reacting to the inflammatory statements that are being credited to the former militants, the USCRIF warned President Goodluck Jonathan and other candidates to prevent the looming electoral violence by calming their supporters as well as warning them against such statements.

USCIRF also called on all Nigeria’s political parties to hold responsible their members who are issuing statements inciting violence along religious lines. It also called on the Nigeria’s police and judiciary to impartially hold accountable all perpetrators of electoral violence.

The agency however hailed the decision of the United States to withhold visas to persons who engage in, plan, and/or perpetrate electoral violence in Nigeria, adding that such decision would send a strong message in support of peaceful elections in the country. It also maintained that every effort needed to be undertaken to ensure peaceful elections and prevent the use of religion to stir up more violence

Source: The Leadership