Unless he publicly apologizes for the loss of life and injuries to 15 others caused by the attack on residents by suspected political thugs loyal to the All Progressive Congress (APC), the people of Duguri town in Alkaleri Local Government Area (LGA) of Bauchi State have vowed drag the gubernatorial candidate of the party, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar (rtd) to court.
The threat by the community followed the death of late Maiunguwar Shata and various degrees of injuries to 15 others when they were allegedly attacked by suspected thugs of the gubernatorial candidate of the APC during a recent campaign visit to the town.
The residents expressed their readiness for the legal action against the APC gubernatorial candidate for what they described as public disturbance in the area when on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, suspected political thugs allegedly loyal to the APC and its gubernatorial candidate stormed Duguri and “unleashed terror on the residents, injured 15 people while one Maiunguwar Shata was killed.”
During a visit to the town to ascertain the situation, residents of the place who spoke severally described the attack on them as “well orchestrated by the thugs in order to silence them for no just reason other than political considering that the Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir is from the area.”
Alhaji Muhammadu Tanko ,the Mai Gundumar Yankari and the person delegated by District Head of Duguri, Yaya Adamu Duguri to receive the gubernatorial candidate of the APC and his entourage on the said date said: “I was delegated to receive Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar and his team at the Palace. He came with not less than 50 people into the Palace. After the usual traditional greetings, he requested for water for ablution for prayers which was given to them.”
“After the prayers, they left for the venue of their campaign lecture. The next thing we heard was shouts and thereafter gunshots. We all ran for safety. At the end of it all, one person was killed while several other people were variously injured.”
Muhammadu Tanko described the situation as a deliberate move to intimidate the people and provoke them so that elections will not hold in the area which they considered as one of the strongholds of the Governor and the PDP.
The traditional leader emphasized that they have been warned to ensure that they accorded every politician the respect he deserves in their capacities as fathers to all, saying, “other candidates had come here for campaigns and nothing bad happened. Why that of the APC?
He said that the situation has been reported to the concerned authorities and they as a people are waiting to hear results from the authorities after which they will take the next line of action which is to seek legal redress.
Abdul’aziz Rilwanu Duguri, a 27 year old who just got married 2 days before the incident expressed sadness that he has been incapacitated by the attack which left him wounded with a broken arm and skull.
According to him, “I was at a place where we normally sit to discuss current issues and situation around us. I just got married and came out to greet my friends and buy meat. Suddenly, we saw thugs with sticks and other dangerous weapons attacking innocent people inside the market.”
He narrated further that, “They came for me to kill me because I am the PDP Youths leader here in Duguri. I was lucky to escape with a broken hand and head. We have resolved to take legal action against the APC gubernatorial candidate, Saddique Abubakar and the APC.”
The Secretary of PDP women in Duguri, Hajiya Zahratu Jibrin, who miraculously escaped the attack by the thugs however had her house and a few items in the compound destroyed, said that from what happened, the thugs came to the area with ulterior motive.
She narrated: “I was not even aware that the APC gubernatorial candidate was coming to our area on that day. I was coming back from the market when I saw people running. I asked what was happening but nobody could tell me, so, I headed home only to see thugs carrying sticks and other dangerous weapons going towards our house.”
“At that point, I ran for my life as they did not see me but they entered the house and destroyed it. I have never seen such dirty politics like this. They came to kill us but we thanked Allah that they did not succeed. We are ready to support our leaders on the appropriate steps to take.”
The PDP Women Group Secretary however assured that the development though instilled fears in them, will not stop them from coming out on the election day to cast their votes, saying: “With this, we will show them that we are women of courage. We will troop out to vote for our preferred candidate, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir of the PDP.”.
Meanwhile, some members of the APC in the town expressed displeasure over the development, saying they will not be part of people who will disrupt the peace of their town as all of them are one family.
The Youth leader, Aminu apologized on behalf of the youths of the town to the Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir for what happened promising that they are solidly behind his re-election bid.