Follow Us on Google
From Paul Orude, Bauchi
The People”s Democratic Party Campaign Council has called for a full investigation into the shooting of two young men by the escort of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Air Air Marshal Siddique Abubakar (retd).
The shooting allegedly occured in the Akuyam community in Misau Local Government Area when the APC went to campaign in the area on Monday.
The Director General of the PDP campaign organisation in the state, Honourable Faruq Mustapha disclosed that one of the victims died of gunshots after they were rushed to Federal Medical Centre Azare.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Mustapha called for a full investigation of the ‘ugly” incident.
He denied the allegation that the PDP supporters attacked the APC convoy in Akuyam, a development that allegedly triggered Saddique Abubakar’s escort to open fire on two citizens.
“We wish to extend our condolences to the family of the deceased and the entire people of Bauchi State,” Mustapha stated.
He warned against the use of force to intimidate and harass citizens of the state by the security personnel attached to APC in the course of the campaign.
Confirming the incident, the Bauchi Police said the escort attached to the APC guber candidate opened fire on two young men following an attack on the convoy of the APC in Akuyam by suspected PDP supporters.
“It happened that on Monday 20:30 00 hours the gubernatorial candidate of the APC when Air Marshal Saddique Abubakar was on his way from Dambam Local Government Area to Akuyam for the campaign, “the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Superintendent of Police Ahmed Wakil disclosed.
“On reaching Akuyam town his entourage was attacked and on that note, his escort opened fire where two persons namely Saleh Garba aged 35 years and Yakubu Yunusa, 20 years old of Akuyam Village were shot and were evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre, Azare and one died on treatment.
“The CP Commiserates and prayed God to grant the deceased eternal.. the CP Alminu Alhassan has ordered a discreet investigation into the matter”
Also speaking on the issue, the Director, Media and Communications, to Air Marshal Sadique Abubakr, Salisu Barau, said that they did not attack anyone, adding however, that “it was the opposition that attacked us.”
Barau, a former Commissioner of Information in Bauchi State under the then Yuguda administration, said despite the fact that they were attacked, they pleaded with their supporters not to fight back.
“I was not there but from the information we gathered, we were able to confirm from the incident of yesterday, that our people were attacked and about 15 to 20 cars were smashed. Some people from our own side got injured.
“I personally noticed that there were some people on trees throwing stones and all those attacks were on us not on any other person in Akuyam that was the first day. We were able to escape out of the town.
“From all the information I gathered, it was confirmed to me that our people were attacked yesterday like they were attacked the day before and they tried to escape from that side.”
