Police confirm thug attack on vehicles at Bauchi event

The Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed an attack by suspected political thugs on vehicles belonging to members of the Peoples Democratic Party during a governorship candidate affirmation event in the state.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in an interview with PUNCH Online on Tuesday, saying the incident occurred while security personnel were managing crowds at the programme.

“The incident happened while our men were controlling crowds at the PDP governorship candidate affirmation. The thugs arrived on motorcycles and smashed some cars parked outside the premises. They were chased but escaped,” Habib said.

He added that the police had commenced an investigation into the matter through intelligence gathering.

Habib warned against political violence, stressing that the command would not tolerate acts capable of disrupting public peace, particularly during the political season.

“Anyone who thinks of this kind of act should think twice. We will not accept any breakdown of law and order,” he stated.

The confirmation followed allegations by a faction of the PDP loyal to its National Chairman, Abdurhaman Muhammad, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that political thugs attacked its governorship candidate affirmation event in Bauchi State.

Addressing journalists in Bauchi on Monday, the party’s National Ex-Officio, Muhammad Sabo, alleged that attackers vandalised vehicles and damaged party property during and after the programme.

According to him, the incident occurred on Sunday when three suspected hoodlums riding a motorcycle stormed the venue and smashed the windscreens and side glasses of five vehicles before fleeing.

“The thugs, three in number, came on a motorbike and smashed the windscreen and side glasses of five vehicles and ran away,” Sabo said.

He further alleged that another group of hoodlums attacked the party secretariat after the event and destroyed some billboards.

This happened while people were leaving the venue after the programme. Some other thugs, who were not part of our gathering, went to the secretariat and scattered some of the billboards,” he said.

Sabo condemned the development, describing it as a dangerous trend that could escalate political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While declining to directly accuse any individual or political group, he called for restraint among political actors.

“We don’t want to make direct allegations against anybody or say a particular person sponsored the thugs. But we want to state categorically that this is a bad scenario that should not start happening at this early stage before the general elections,” he said.

He appealed to Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and the state’s ruling party to ensure a peaceful environment for all political parties.

“We wish to call upon the ruling party in the state, especially the governor, to, in the interest of peace, provide a peaceful platform for every political party to conduct its affairs without hindrance,” he stated.

Sabo also urged political leaders to caution their supporters against violence, warning that such actions could destabilise the state.

“This scenario is capable of generating violence, which we do not want to happen in Bauchi State,” he added.

He confirmed that the faction had lodged a formal complaint with the police over the incident.

“A formal complaint has been lodged with the police,” he said.

The faction affirmed Usman Supi as its governorship candidate in Bauchi State on Sunday.