Youths stone Niger governor’s convoy

The convoy of Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu was on Wednesday stoned by aggrieved youths.

Deputy Governor Ahmed Ibeto and three others had their vehicles damaged in the attack at Kuta.

Also damaged was Senator Dahiru Kuta’s car. Kuta is seeking re-election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The governor’s younger brother’s and two others’ vehicles were also damaged.

The incident happened while the governor was leaving the palace of the District Head of Kuta as part of his campaign tour.

The deputy governor’s car was withdrawn from the convoy and sent to Abuja for repairs.

Shortly after the incident in Kuta, a bomb scare almost marred the governor’s rally at Sarkin Pawa in Munya Local Government Area where there was a stampede. The bomb alert turned out to be a hoax.

According to witnesses, the incident happened immediately after former Deputy Governor Shem Nuhu addressed the crowd in Gwari, calling on them to support Aliyu and President Goodluck Jonathan.

The stampede was caused when a riot policeman cocked his gun after pushing a male supporter who retaliated.

Protesting students of the College of Agriculture in Lafia yesterday marred the grand finale of Governor Akume Doma’s campaign for re-election.

Protesting youths also blocked roads leading from Doma to Lafia over the governor’s inability to locate the new federal university in the governor’s home town.

College of Agriculture students blocked the main road leading in and out of Lafia, causing a traffic jam on Jos road. Motorists travelling to and from Makurdi to Abuja were stranded for over five hours.

The demonstrators plucked branches of trees, which they waved at motorists, and chanted anti-Doma slogans, insisting that if the governor recorded any achievement in his first term, education was not one of them.

“Doma has murdered the future of Nasarawa. He has strangled education,” they sang.

The protesting students are against the relocation of the college to a secondary school in Doma, which they said had no facilities.

President of the students union Ibrahim Owuna told reporters: “There are no facilities there. Where would lectures take place? Under trees or where?”

But the provost of the College, Dr. Saingbe Napoleon, said students took the management and the government unawares, insisting they did not communicate their grievances in any way before.

Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Odiako said there was no arrest as the protesting students were his children, who, according to him, heeded his call to stop their demonstrations.

Political thugs of the the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday disrupted the campaign rally of the governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Taraba, Senator Danlami Ikenya, in Takum local government area.

Fierce macho-looking men, armed with dangerous weapons emerged at the Alheri Primary School, Takum –venue of the rally and chased away ACN supporters who had gathered to receive their candidates. There was commotion, with supporters running helter-skelter.

Although, nobody died, many supporters sustained injuries. At least five vehicles belonging to the ACN were vandalised.

Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Takum, Ephraim Hemfe, an ASP, said the PDP violated the Public Order Act (POA).

He said: “the PDP senatorial candidate for Taraba South Hon Emmanuel Bwacha, the PDP House of Representatives candidate for Takum, Ussa and Wukari Hon. Sam Tsokwa and the PDP House of Assembly candidate, Hon Istifanus Gbana led their supporters to also campaign in Takum without obtaining police permit”.

As at yesterday, no arrests had been made.

Hon Gbana has denied involvement in the crisis. He told reporters that he was in Takum but left in the morning.