People run as vehicles are set on fire following deadly clashes between supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Kofa in Bebeji district of Kano, economic nerve centre of northern Nigeria, on February 22, 2019. Two people were killed, while 40 vehicles, 12 motorcycles and houses were burn following bloody clashes between supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kofa town, Bebeji district of Kano, northeast Nigeria ahead of tomorrow’s rescheduled presidential election. PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP
• Two Kwankwasiyya Members Confirmed Dead, Scores Injured, 40 Vehicles Burnt
The Kano State Police Command has detained the member of House of Representatives, representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency, Abdulmumuni Jibrin, and 17 suspected political thugs over the clash on Thursdays between supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the former’s campaign rally in Kofa village, Jibrin’s hometown, which led to the death of some people, with scores wounded.
Jibrin was arrested yesterday at Kofa about 11am by a detachment of armed mobile police operatives, led by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 1, Kano, Dan Bature, accompanied by Kano Commissioner of Police, Wakili Mohammed.
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The lawmaker, who is a candidate in today’s elections, was later granted administrative bail. This was confirmed by the state Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Haruna, who added that investigation on the matter continues.
This came just as Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje accused Mohammed of contributing to the clash by ignoring government’s advice and granting PDP’s Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso permit to carry on with political rally at a period APC was embarking on similar activities in the area, a development said led to the conflict.
Jibrin, APC’s candidate in today’s elections and a strong loyalist of the governor, was detained in connection with the attack unleashed on Kwankwaso’s convoy at his hometown.
The Police confirmed death of two persons, with scores wounded and property destroyed, including 40 vehicles burnt by suspected thugs.
Briefing journalists at the Bompai Police headquarters, Bature said that Jibrin was detained for interrogation over his alleged involvement in the crisis, stressing that he led a special detachment of operatives to Kofa to assess the level of damage during the inter-party clash and the lawmaker was arrested following renewed onslaught and burning of more property by suspected thugs in his village.
The AIG explained that Police was strictly working under directive to deal ruthlessly with anybody attempting to obstruct peaceful conduct of the elections.
Meanwhile, the APC in Kano has debunked allegations that Jibrin was sponsoring political thugs.
State Secretary of the party, Ibrahim Zakari, said the party would not stop the Police from carrying out their lawful responsibility, but insisted that the lawmaker was invited alongside PDP members for interrogation, saying it would issue official statement at the end of police investigation.
In his reaction, spokesperson to Abba Kabiru Yusuf, PDP’s governorship candidate, Sanusi Bature, said the party would follow the involvement of Jibrin in the attack that claimed innocent persons to a logical conclusion.
