So here we are back in Kaduna. It’s wonderful, weird, sad, exciting, to be back after such a long and sudden break.
While we were gone, the elections for the State Houses of Assembly, State Governors and the President took place. As we had feared, there was violence in the north of Nigeria, including in Kaduna.
Some of our fellow volunteers were evacuated by the Dutch embassy. As they left the city, they saw evidence of the fighting that had been taking place, including burnt bodies at the side of the road. Our neighbour spent three nights in a row patrolling our local streets with an armed gang of men, protecting the area against threatened attacks; luckily, none came. Friends and colleagues knew of people who had had their houses burnt down. There were volunteers in the south of Kaduna state who witnessed far worse. We were very lucky to be out of Nigeria at this time.
There is still a curfew in Kaduna from 9pm to 5am. This Sunday will see the inauguration of those who were “elected” in these elections, heralded by international observers as the most free and fair the country has ever seen. It’s hard to know what to say to that. The swearing-in ceremonies could, naturally, be triggers for more trouble, so we are being evacuated to Abuja for the weekend. I hope that will be the end of it, and that life for people in the north can go back to normal after this.
Waoo, you see for your self, there too much political party and every one hope to win, but the result mean only one candidate could win but some lawless people of kaduna state take law in to their hand and turn violent, result lost of live and damage of properties what a course?if things could not resolve amicably, there are option, see Mali this shows civilian are not disciplined but the successful one will take care by taken security measure.
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