Coalition of the INEC accredited observer groups in the just concluded off-cycle election in Bayelsa State, have urged  security agencies to be proactive and prevent electoral violence, harassment of INEC officials and voters, and hijack of electoral materials, among others.

They noted that though the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine functioned satisfactorily in most polling units, some hoodlums carted away BVAS machines in some wards of Nembe, Brass and Southern Ijaw areas of the state.

The coalition, comprising 14 observer groups, however, said the BVAS machines were later returned or recovered by security agents except for those lost in the water when a boat capsized.

At a press briefing, yesterday, in Yenagoa, the chairman of the coalition, Romanus Agu, and the Secretary, Sani Bashir, said the security situation in Bayelsa State during last Saturday’s poll was relatively peaceful.

They said: “There were skirmishes in some councils, like Sagbama, Southern Ijaw, Nembe, Brass and Ekeremor. Supervising presiding officer at Ward 06 Ossioma in Sagbama councils was abducted while waiting to board a boat to Amassoma.

“We received the report of the killing of one of the party supporters at the collation centre in Brass. We received reports of the snatching of result sheets of units 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 in Olodiama community of Southern Ijaw.

“Similarly, ad hoc staff of INEC were attacked by thugs, who carted away BVAS machines and some election materials only to return them hours later at Mini, Ikensi and Oluasiri Registration Areas of Nembe Council, which led to the cancellation of results in those wards.”

The observers recommended that political parties and other stakeholders should step-up voter sensitisation to reduce voter apathy.

They also said: “Modern boats should be used to convey electoral materials to coastal areas to forestall boat mishap.”