Post election violence in Gombe, Bauchi

Not less than 10 people have been killed while cars, houses and other valuables were destroyed in the aftermath of the presidential polls in different parts of Bauchi State. The violence also extended to Gombe State, as supporters of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) protested against what they said was the collusion between electoral officers and the ruling PDP in the state to deny their party victory in the state. Although attempts to burn the private home of the state governor, Danjuma Goje was foiled, the protesters razed the home of the state chairman of the PDP and those of his neighbours.

The mostly young protesters are displeased that the PDP recorded about 32 percent of the votes counted in the state and they blame the state government for this.

In Bauchi, the campaign office of the Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda located on Ran Road was completely burnt down while several vehicles belonging to PDP agents were also burnt by the irate youth who blocked the main Ahmadu Bello Way leading to the Sa’adu Zungur Model School which served as the collation centre for the presidential election.

In Azare, angry youth set the house of the Bauchi State chairman of the PDP, Ibrahim Yaro-Yaro, on fire as well as the house of the Deputy National Secretary of the party, Musa Babayo just as other structures belonging to PDP members were torched.

Security cordon

In Misau, reports have it that the family house of the secretary to the state government, Ibrahim Dandija was torched by the youth while a youth corps member, who was an electoral official in one of the polling centres, was beaten at his station during the exercise and is now receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Bauchi.

In Alkaleri, the youth unleashed terror on people, setting buildings and cars ablaze just as the Chairman of Kirfi Local Government Council, Ibrahim Galadima and that of Bauchi LGC, Sabo Abdullahi Mohammed were molested while their vehicles were destroyed.

In Wuntin-Dada and Guru Area of Bauchi metropolis, three people were killed by the youth who questioned why the PDP won in some of the polling units in the area, just as two more people were killed in the Kofar-Dumi area of the Bauchi metropolis with pockets of houses and cars also torched in the areas.

Armed soldiers as well as anti-riot policemen have been deployed to strategic locations in Bauchi to maintain peace. A police source said a number of the protesters have been arrested by the State Police Command which, however, has not made any public comments on the violence.

Calls to the Commissioner of Police, John Abakasanga and the command’s spokesperson, Mohammad Barau were not answered as at the time of going to press.