BY OKEY NDIRIBE

ABUJA-Tears flowed freely, yesterday, in Abuja, as relatives of adhoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, killed or injured during the post-election violence in some parts of the North received compensation from a consortium of insurance companies.

On the occasion, Mr. Emma Eneanya, a representative of one of the insurance firms, which collectively paid N15 million to the representatives of the bereaved families, said the N655,000 pay-out to some of them was just a token which couldn’t adequately quantify the supreme sacrifice the deceased paid to ensure the nation had a credible election last April.

Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, apologised for the delay in payment of the compensation, adding that it was because insurance claims usually took time to get processed.

He condoled relatives of the deceased staff, adding that he knew the day was a painful one for them.

He recalled that most adhoc staff who worked for the commission during the polls were either serving or ex-members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, and students of tertiary institutions in the country.

He said almost all local and foreign observers who monitored the polls were impressed with the high degree  of commitment they demonstrated during the elections.

He expressed regret over the violence which led to scores of them being killed while performing their duties during the polls.

Said he: “The violence shouldn’t have happened. Our hope is that all those who were involved in it should be prosecuted.

“We  also believe that since the election was credibly conducted, those who lost their lives during the polls didn’t die in vain.”