From David Hassan, Gombe
At least over 13 vehicles were said have been destroyed yesterday by aggrieved political thugs said to be loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) at the Northern Senatorial District campaign launch in Dukku Local Government Area of Gombe State.
Peoples Daily gathered that trouble started few minutes to the end of the ceremony when the heavily armed party thugs realized that officials of the party were not willing to give them their welfare packages as planned.
As a result of the ensuing skirmishes, the wind screens of no fewer than ten cars were completely destroyed by the thugs who were wielding cutlasses, sticks, iron rods, and many other dangerous weapons.
The protest by the thugs immediately sent other supporters on their feet as they scampered for their lives.
An eye witness who pleaded for anonymity because of security reasons, told our correspondent that the thugs who were taken to the venue of the occasion, were denied payment of their allowances, an action which aggravated them as they went wild.
According to the source, the boys (thugs) were promised N50, 000 for each bus and their feeding but that after the occasion none of the officials was willing to listen to or even attend to their problems.
When contacted over the incident, state party Chairman, Mr. Shuaibu Baba Sabulu said he is just hearing it just like the reporters but has not seen it.
Speaking in Hausa, he said “I can’t confirm because my eyes have not seen and no one has brought his damaged car to me. As you heard it, that is the way I heard it, so even if I told you that it is a lie then I’m correct. I’ve heard it but I have not seen it. Because we left immediately after the occasion, I’ve always warned my boys against trouble”.
Thuggery of such magnitude are usual characteristics in Gombe politics especially with the dreaded Kalare thugs who always accompany politicians during such campaigns and other political activities where they harass, intimidate, injure and even kill innocent citizens.
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