Electoral Violence in Anambra: Godwin Uzochukwu Okafor’s parents count losses ,sorrow for escaped son, begs for care

www.odogwublog.com reports that the parents of 21 years old Uzochukwu Okafor,  an indigene of Ukwulu in Dunukofia Area council of Anambra State yesterday confirmed missing their son,  Uzochukwu who escaped shores of the state after his alleged participation in 2011 Anambra Gubernatorial electoral offenses.

It was alleged that the said son was involved in thuggery,  maiming,  kidnapping and snatching of electoral materials in Awka.

According to his father,  Ichie Edwin Okafor,  a business man in the state, as he count his ordeal,  that Uzochukwu came home in June 2011 took his belongings and ran away, informing them that his life is in danger.

He narrated that his son was taken to detention at Awka where he escaped from police net. He explained that some of the colleagues of the said Uzochukwu were branded criminals and the account of their where about cannot be given till the present day.

In his words," Godwin is my son, he cannot hurt an ant and I pray wherever he's,  if he finds peace he should make it his home".

He regrets that he has not heard from his son for years.
However,  that life is worth living and thus better than death.
He recounted,  that many people has lost lives and properties to electoral violence. He went ahead to blame politicians who are not contented and often lure these young children into aberrant activities.

He added,  election is win win game when you congratulate the winner. He advised parents to tether their children so they won't be veritable tools for election violence.

Ichie Ofodile lament that his fear on the return of the son is prosecution and subsequent prison term.

Electoral Act section 98 states that ‘’ no candidate, person or group of persons shall directly or indirectly threaten any person with the use of force or violence during any political campaign in order to compel that person or any other person to support a political party or candidate. Breach of this provision will attract a fine of N50, 000 or imprisonment for a term of six months in the case of an individual; or a fine of N250, 000.00 in the first instance, and N500, 000.00 for subsequent offence, in the case of a political party.
‘’Section 135 of the Act prohibits disorderly conduct at elections. By that section, any person who at an election acts or incites others to act in a disorderly manner commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N100, 000 or imprisonment for a term of twelve months or both. It is also an offence under section 136 when done on an election day, to be in possession of any offensive weapon or wear any dress or have any facial or other decorations which in any event are calculated to intimidate voters or to snatch or destroy any election materials.   Punishment for these offences is N50, 000 or imprisonment for six (6) months’’.
But so many have been killed awaiting trial for crimes they know nothing about in Nigerian prisons and police cells.