Noah Ebije, Kaduna
One person was said to have been killed in Kaduna on Wednesday when supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) clashed.
Also, several other persons were reported to have sustained various degrees of injuries in the fracas.
The injured persons were rushed to Saint Gerard’s Catholic Hospital, a stone throw from the troubled zones.
Two vehicles believed to belong to APC were said to have been set ablaze by the rampaging rioters.
Supporters of the two political parties were said to have clashed in Kakuri and Kurmi Gwari areas of the city at about 4 pm when the APC went to the area for governorship campaign ahead of Saturday election.
The areas are believed to be a stronghold of the PDP.
However, eyewitness account said during the campaign, APC supporters were alleged to have rained abusive words on PDP supporters in the areas.
“We don’t know why APC people should be threatening everybody in these areas. They came yesterday (Tuesday) and moved around this place, abusing those that do not belong to their party.
“One person was killed in the clash, but the death toll would have been more if not for the intervention of police, soldiers and other security agencies that took over the areas, and stopped the escalation of the clash,” the eyewitness said.
When contacted, the state police command spokesman, DSP Yakubu Sabo, said: “I am currently attending a programme at the Nigeria Military School Zaria, but let me send you my 2ic’s number; contact him for an update please.”
When our correspondent contacted his second in command, ASP Nafiu Habib, he said: “Yes, today at about 14:30hrs, while a political rally of a state Assembly candidate of the APC was going on around Kakuri area, there was a clash between thugs believed to be supporters of the opposition party and that of the APC.
“However, on receipt of such information, the police mobilised to the area and restored normalcy. Efforts are on to apprehend the perpetrators of the act.”