20110418
Leadership (Abuja)

Katsina — Violence erupted yesterday in three states in the north, namely, Adamawa, Gombe and Katsina with youths taking to the streets in protest, after presidential election results were declared in favour of President Goodluck Jonathan of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party

In the aftermath of the presidential elections and the violence that has threatened to engulf some parts of Gombe State, a dusk-to-dawn curfew was announced late last night by the state police command, apparently to forestall the escalation of the riots.

The protest in Katsina State erupted after a policeman that was in an argument with a man he apparently had business dealings with, shot and killed a bystander, 27-year-old Najib Muhammed while Nura Sukula, who had the dealings with the policeman, was later arrested.

In Yola, the Adamawa State capital, where the PDP won the presidential election, youths believed to be CPC supporters were seen making bonfires and destroying PDP offices and billboards, while passersby were unmolested.

The delay in announcing the presidential election result in the state had initially led to some CPC supporters besieging the headquarters of INEC, demanding that the result be announced or else they would burn down the building.

Youths in the capital of Gombe State, however, went ahead to set some houses ablaze in the city centre, blocking the major roads and highway, because they felt the result had been manipulated during the delay in its announcement.

LEADERSHIP gathered last night that 10 people were killed by the rioting youths, while the house of the state chairman of PDP was set ablaze. Governor Danjuma Goje's house was also affected. However, the presidential candidate of CPC, General Muhammadu Buhari, led in the poll with a total of 469,898 votes, followed by PDP, which got 290,347 votes and All Nigeria Peoples Party ANPP which scored 5,623 votes and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), with 3,420.

In Bauchi State, the military has taken over the streets and at least seven people have been killed over the last two days. Cars, houses and other valuables were destroyed in response to declared results of the presidential election in different parts of the state when irate youths believed to be supporters of the opposition CPC unleashed terror on innocent people in the name of protecting their votes.

In Azare, headquarters of Katagum LGA, irate youths set ablaze the house of the Bauchi State chairman of the ruling PDP, Ibrahim Yaro-Yaro, as well as the house of the deputy national secretary of the party, Dr. Musa Babayo, just as other structures belonging to PDP members were torched.

In Bauchi, the campaign office of the Bauchi State governor, Isa Yuguda, located on Ran Road was completely burnt down. Several vehicles belonging to PDP agents were completely burnt by the irate youths who blocked the main Ahmadu Bello Way leading to the Sa'adu Zungur Model School which served as the collation centre for the presidential election.

In Wuntin-Dada and Guru Area of Bauchi metropolis, two people were killed by the irate youths who feel that the result of the polling unit was rigged by the PDP in the area. Two more people were killed in the Kofar-Dumi area of the Bauchi metropolis just as houses and cars were also torched in the areas. As at the time of this report, armed military men as well as anti-riot policemen have been drafted to strategic locations in Bauchi metropolis to maintain peace just as the miscreants have been forced out of the streets.

Unconfirmed reports have it that a number of the miscreants have been arrested by the State Police Command which, however, has not made any public comments on the violence that trailed the presidential elections in Bauchi State. The state commissioner of police, John Abakasanga, and the PPRO, Mohammad Barau, could not be reached as they did not pick the phone calls placed to their lines.

While parading before newsmen the suspect (Corporal Tanko), who shot and killed the by-stander in Katsina, the state commissioner of police, Ibrahim Muhammad, confirmed that the policemen were operating illegally as they were not sent by any superior from the command.

The state CP announced the dismissal of the corporal from the police command and said he would be charged to court immediately for alleged culpable homicide, while his three accomplices would be punished accordingly.

The CP warned that the police would not allow such acts to continue and urged people in Katsina to remain calm as the command will continue to protect them.

The dismissed corporal Tanko said he acted in self-defence to disperse the crowd of youth that attempted to confiscate his gun during the operation.