……..Over 20 vehicles destroyed, several people injured
The immediate past governor of Kano
state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, escaped being lynched by a mob yesterday when
his motorcade was attacked in Garko, the headquarters of Garko local government
area of the state.
state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, escaped being lynched by a mob yesterday when
his motorcade was attacked in Garko, the headquarters of Garko local government
area of the state.
An Islamic centre, built by Shekarau
when he was governor, and ANPP offices in the town were burnt during the
attack.
when he was governor, and ANPP offices in the town were burnt during the
attack.
Shekarau, who was together with
several other leaders of the All Nigeria Party (ANPP), had led top chieftains
of his political party and thousands of their supporters to Garko town for a
campaign rally for the February 2 bye-election into two vacant seats in the
state House of Assembly.
several other leaders of the All Nigeria Party (ANPP), had led top chieftains
of his political party and thousands of their supporters to Garko town for a
campaign rally for the February 2 bye-election into two vacant seats in the
state House of Assembly.
In the convoy of the former governor,
who is also the Sardaunan Kano, were Hon. Kawu Sumaila, Alhaji Salisu Sagir
Takai, Senator Kabiru Gaya, Alhaji Ghali Sadik, and thousands of women
supporters of ANPP from Kano and Garko.
who is also the Sardaunan Kano, were Hon. Kawu Sumaila, Alhaji Salisu Sagir
Takai, Senator Kabiru Gaya, Alhaji Ghali Sadik, and thousands of women
supporters of ANPP from Kano and Garko.
An eye witness told Blueprint that on Monday, when leaders of the
ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) went to Gaya town, a stronghold of the
opposition ANPP, they were ambushed, several of their vehicles were destroyed
and their party offices and several houses of their supporters were destroyed
or burnt.
ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) went to Gaya town, a stronghold of the
opposition ANPP, they were ambushed, several of their vehicles were destroyed
and their party offices and several houses of their supporters were destroyed
or burnt.
What happened in Garko, a stronghold
of the PDP, is regarded by pundits in Kano as a reprisal attack.
of the PDP, is regarded by pundits in Kano as a reprisal attack.
The former governor later invited
reporters to his house in Kano to brief them over the incident, but after he
held a meeting with the state commissioner of police he cancelled the briefing
and postponed it to 12:00 noon today.
reporters to his house in Kano to brief them over the incident, but after he
held a meeting with the state commissioner of police he cancelled the briefing
and postponed it to 12:00 noon today.
Some ANPP chieftains warned that if
the state police command did not provide adequate security on Saturday, then
the by-election is going to be bloody, as tension is already high in Garko and
Gaya.
the state police command did not provide adequate security on Saturday, then
the by-election is going to be bloody, as tension is already high in Garko and
Gaya.
It would be recalled that members of
the state House of Assembly representing Gaya and Garko, Danladi Kademi and
Abba Garko respectively, were killed recently by unknown gunmen.
the state House of Assembly representing Gaya and Garko, Danladi Kademi and
Abba Garko respectively, were killed recently by unknown gunmen.
This is also coming on the heels of
an attack on the convoy of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, in which six
people were killed and several others injured.
an attack on the convoy of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, in which six
people were killed and several others injured.
Source Blueprint
