Angry youths burnt two Jonathan campaign vehicles in Niger

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

Angry youths yesterday attacked and set ablaze two campaign vehicles belonging to President Goodluck Jonathan in Suleja town of Niger state.

The cause of the attack and the identity of the attackers were however not known but our Correspondent learnt that the hoodlums were sympathetic towards the All Progressives Congress (APC) who felt offended with the campaign slogan, songs emanating from the vehicle decorated with posters of the PDP governorship candidate.

The two vehicles burnt by the hoodlums are Hiace bus and Hilux van.

The attack came few minutes after the party governorship campaign rally held in the town with party faithful in jubilation mood.

It was gathered that the timely intervention of the Nigerian military prevented the escalation of the situation as they have condoned off the street in which the incident happened.

The Peoples Democratic Party had taken its governorship campaign train to Suleja after a similar rally in Sabon Wuse at about 2pm only to meet hostile youths on the road.

The state Commissioner of Sports, Abdullahi Garba who was said to have pleaded with the restive youths in Suleja not to disrupt the rally only for them to attack the vehicle few moments after the PDP contingent left the town.

Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Niger state police command DSP Ibrahom Gambari proved abortive.

However an eyewitness said the vehicles were burnt to ashes but no live was lost as the drivers took to their heels for safety.