Suspected thugs stab APC agent at Gwagwalada village

A polling agent of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Haruna Gurfata, was allegedly stabbed by suspected hired thugs yesterday during the re-run chairmanship election at Gurfata village, Ibwa ward, Gwagwalada Area Council.
 Our reporter learnt that the incident happened when the victim, a native of the community, was on his way to the polling unit, was attacked by suspected political thugs who inflicted cuts on him with a knife.
 A resident of the community, who only identified himself as Yakubu, said the incident created tension in the community, which discouraged voters, especially women, from coming out to cast their votes.
 He said the suspected thugs, who brandished knives and clubs, also allegedly prevented voters from neighbouring villages from coming to the village to vote.
 “In fact, as I am talking right now, there is serious tension at Gurfata village. Hired thugs have prevented voters from neighbouring villages to come and cast their votes, even the few security men deployed to the village are not doing anything,” he said.
    He said the matter had been reported to the Gwagwalada divisional police headquarters, and that the injured were taken to a neighbouring village clinic for medical attention.
 When contacted, the Gwagwalada police area commander, ACP Olufemi Abinwaja, said as far he was concerned, voting went on peacefully at the village and other places that re-run elections took place in the council.
 “You see, I am not a politician. So if you want any information you can contact the police commissioner, but as far as I am concerned, voting was going on peacefully in all the villages that re-run took place,” he said.