Some yet-to-be identified thugs have attacked supporters and vehicles of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) along the Na’ibawa-Zaria road in Kano.
The supporters, who are on their way to Kwanar Dangora at the outskirts of the city to receive the party’s presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on Thursday.
Kwankwaso was on his way to the state for a homecoming and the grand finale of his presidential campaign rally and was close to entering the city after departing Kwanar Dangora when the incident occurred.
Daily Trust reports that at least 10 vehicles have so far been attacked and burned to ashes.
According to an eyewitness who narrowly escaped the incident, Tasiu Lawal said he flew through the trunk of the vehicle he was in.
“I narrowly escaped.” Alhamdulillah. We were told that they were there waiting for us, so we waited at Na’ibawa and made sure there were many before proceeding.
“Unknowingly, they came from all angles and attacked us. They started attacking us with machetes, including women.”
Police ask parties to shelve rallies in Kano
Earlier, the police had asked the NNPP, APC, and PDP to shelve the scheduled rallies they intended to carry out in the metropolis.
The Kano State Police Command has asked political groups in the state not to hold rallies anymore.
The Kano Police Commissioner, Muhammad Yakubu, gave the order after the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP) scheduled rallies simultaneously in Kano state.
Rabiu Kwankwaso, the NNPP’s presidential candidate, had scheduled a mega rally in the state to mark the end of his nationwide campaign, while the APC has also scheduled its Kano Central rally for the same date.
As the 2023 general elections get closer, the Kano Police have told the two political parties to shelve their rallies in order to keep peace in the state.
Police cancels all political rallies in Kano
Kano State Police Command on Thursday cancelled all political rallies in the state with immediate effect following clashes between supporters of the ruling All Progressive Congress and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The ruling APC and the leading opposition NNPP had planned their grand finale rallies for Thursday ahead of the Saturday presidential and national assembly elections.
The police authority had invited the leadership of the trio of APC, PDP, and NNPP for an emergency meeting where they were cautioned of possible security threats in the state.
A source in the security circle revealed that representatives of APC and NNPP rejected the advice, insisting that the police grant them permission for seeking it earlier on.
“You recall that (three) political parties, via APC, NNPP, and PDP, informed the command of their rallies scheduled for Thursday, February 23, 2023, within Kano metropolis.
“In view of the precarious security situation in the state and the country in general, the commissioner of police summoned the representatives of the three political parties to an emergency meeting to find a solution to the impasse,” said a letter sighted from the police.
“It is therefore advised that all political parties postpone the planned presidential and national assembly rallies to a later date after the February 25 elections,” DCP Muhammad noted in a statement.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the NNPP gubernatorial candidate in Kano, Sanusi Bature, disclosed that the party would comply with security advice to avoid the loss of needless lives and property.
Bature further explained that party supporters would assemble at the designated location to receive the party’s presidential candidate and usher him to his residence.
Similarly, APC state secretary Zakari Sarina contended that the Kano State government is committed to a peaceful election and would not partake in any action that could breach the peaceful atmosphere in the state.
