Yiaga Africa, a civil society organisation (CSO), has identified eight LGAs in Edo ahead of the off-cycle governorship election as hotspots for violence.
The LGAs are Ovia south-west, Ovia north-east, Egor, Oredo, Ikpoba Okha, Etsako west, Etsako east, Esan south-east.
The CSO said its pre-election observation revealed that there are patterns of thuggery, intimidation, violence, arson, hate speech, and proliferation of small and light arms in the LGAs.
The Edo state governorship election is scheduled for September 21.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it registered 2,629,025 voters for the election, noting that 379,245 electorate did not collect their permanent voter cards (PVCs).
Christopher Musa, the chief of defence staff (CDS), has said operatives of the local security networks and vigilantes should steer clear of election duties during the governorship poll.
During a meeting with stakeholders and military officers in preparation for the election, he warned individuals against carrying arms to intimidate the electorate, noting that only the statutory security agencies would be allowed for the election.
The CDS warned that anyone who disrupts the poll would bear the consequences, adding that the military has the presidential mandate to ensure a free, fair, and credible election in Edo.