BY AHMED TUKUR, LAFIA – Over 40 people have reportedly been injured and several others missing after the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital degenerated into a warzone with blood spilling and broken glasses littering everywhere.
What was meant to be a crowning political showcase in Lafia, turned chaotic and spiralled into absolute anarchy as the political fault lines split wide open, resulting in a violent clash between two youths’ factions in the State.
Our correspondent reports that things got awry at the rally graced by Vice President Kashim Shettima when some youths dressed in APC regalia began chanting slogans in support of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate and former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Adamu Abubakar.
Visibly angry that the opposing youth groups were defiantly hijacking their show, the atmosphere suddenly became tensed as loyalists of APC governorship candidate, Aliyu Wadada, alongside heavily armed security operatives, moved to counter the political threat, clashing fiercely with the provocateurs, and turning Lafia into a chaotic theatre of political rage.
Unfortunately, the situation deteriorated further as some youths from both sides of the divide backing the former IGP and Wadada, engaged in violent confrontations, brandishing dangerous weapons and forcing several dignitaries outside the VIP section to scamper and flee for safety.
To bring the chaotic situation under control, security operatives subsequently fired tear gas to disperse the agitated youths and restore order, even as many people were seen after the mayhem searching for their loved ones who also came to the rally.
Amid the chaos, the organisers were forced to quickly bring the rally to an abrupt end to ensure the security and safety of dignitaries who had travelled from within and outside the state to attend the event.
Meanwhile, condemning the unfortunate incident, the Nasarawa State Government indicted former governor, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, and the SDP governorship candidate, ex-IGP Adamu Abubakar, over their alleged links to the violence that disrupted the presidential rally
In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Labaran Magaji, the government described the incident as an ignoble act allegedly perpetrated by some irate youths suspected to be connected to prominent personalities.
The statement said: “We condemned that ignoble act perpetuated by some irate youths with suspected links to some high-profile personalities, including Senator Tanko Al-Makura and IGP Muhammad Adamu Abubakar.”
Expressing its resolve to bring the perpetrators to book, the government said the security agencies would immediately commence comprehensive investigation into the incident, saying: “Accordingly, the Department of State Security Service is hereby directed to immediately institute full investigation to unravel the cause of the incident.”
As tension remains high in Lafia, security operatives have deployed across strategic locations in the town to maintain public order and prevent a possible escalation of violence to other areas within the state
