One Killed, 18 Injured As Suspected APC And PDP Thugs Clash In Zamfara [Photos]

One person has been killed while 18 others sustained injuries during a clash between suspected supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara state.

APC And PDP Supporters Clash In Zamfara

Zamfara police spokesman, Muhammad Shehu, confirmed the development while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau, the state capital, on Sunday.

He said, “Discreet investigation into the case has commenced aimed at ensuring that the perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.”

The APC in Zamfara had, in a statement on Saturday by its publicity secretary in Gusau, Yusuf Idris, alleged that thugs suspected to be PDP supporters perpetrated the attack.

Idris said, “It is highly disheartening and worrisome the attack with firearms perpetrated by PDP thugs. The thugs came as the PDP Zamfara governorship candidate’s boys and shot at innocent youths who were carrying out their monthly sanitation work in GRA area of Gusau, the Zamfara state capital.

“We are calling for calm by the good citizens of the state who were angered by the thugs. We wish to call on both the state government and security agents to urgently fish out the culprits and bring them to book to prevent reprisals.”

Idris urged security agencies to also uncover how and where the alleged attackers secured such dangerous firearms. “A stitch in time, saves nine and a word is always enough for the wise,” he said.

But the PDP deputy chairman in Zamfara, Murkhtar Lugga, denied the allegations, saying the party’s governorship candidate, Dauda Lawal-Dare, only had a meeting to receive 50 defectors from the 14 LGAs of the state on Saturday.

Lugga also alleged that some PDP youths were attacked during the event, adding that two of its supporters were shot in front of the campaign office of the governorship candidate in Gusau.

The PDP deputy chairman said the party would investigate the allegation of the clash involving its supporters and take appropriate action.

Meanwhile, Zamfara deputy governor, Hassan Nasiha, visited the victims of the attack at the Specialist Hospital, Gusau to ascertain their condition. He confirmed that one live was lost while 18 others sustained various degrees of bullet wounds.

Nasiha said it was the fear of such breach of law and order that the Zamfara Government announced a halt on campaign activities and rallies by political parties in the state.

The deputy governor, however, said that the state government would investigate the matter and resolve on next line of action. He assured of government’s resolve to punish whoever was found involved in the attack.

KanyiDaily had also reported how PDP Secretariat and Atiku campaign office in Gombe were both set on fire by suspected APC thugs.