The attack on Atiku Abubakar’s convoy in Maiduguri, left many injured
By Emma Ogbuehi
The convoy of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was attacked in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Wednesday.
The presidential campaign trail of the opposition party had hardly landed in Borno, when the attack ensued.
In a viral video on the incident, many people were seen running in different directions as gunshots rend the air.
Several vehicles in the convoy of Atiku were vandalised at Ramat Square in Maiduguri, the state capital.
Spokesman of the Atiku Campaign, Senator Dino Malaye, blamed the attack on the ruling party in Borno. The state is under the All progressives Congress (APC), where the party’s running mate, Kashim Shettima, hails from. Shettima is the immediate past governor of the state.
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Melaye lamented that more than 70 people were hospitalised.
“They wanted to prevent us from holding the campaign. As we speak, 74 people were injured and hospitalized. Several vehicles were vandalised by APC thugs”, Melaye was quoted to have said.
The APC is yet to react to Melaye’s allegation on the incident. This is not the first time, supporters of the PDP flag bearer would be attacked.
Two days ago, one person was shot when suspected political thugs attacked Atiku’s supporters in Eberi in Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State.
One of those attacked was the coordinator of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in Omuma LGA, Hon. Nnamdi Nwogu.
Nwogu claimed that over 30 youths brandishing machetes and guns swooped on him, his aide and three others, while they were pasting posters of their principal at the popular Eberi-Omuma junction in Omuma on Sunday.
In October, suspected political thugs attacked supporters of the PDP candidate at a rally in Kaduna State.
Atiku confirmed the attack in a post on his verified social media handles.
The assault came few days after thugs attacked supporters of the party in Zamfara State leading to the death of at least one person, while several others were injured.
Atiku in the post, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call supporters of all political parties to order in a bid to tackle reoccurrence of such incident.
He wrote, “I have just received emergency reports of attacks on PDP supporters by thugs sponsored to scuttle the ongoing PDP campaign rally in Kaduna State. This is undemocratic and against the Peace Accord all parties signed up for just a few weeks ago.
“I urge President Buhari to call on all parties to call their supporters and members to order and to ensure that campaigns, just as with the elections themselves, are kept free, fair and safe”.
