Thugs disrupt political meeting in Jigawa

Stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa state narrowly escaped being lynched at the weekend by some irate youths in Nasarawa village in Gwaram Local Government Area, Daily Trust learnt.

Those involved in the incident include the federal lawmaker representing Gwaram federal constituency, Yuguda Hassan Kila, the speaker of Jigawa state House of Assembly, Isa Idris,  and former Minister of Commerce, Bello Maitama Yusuf, among others.

The politicians were said to have converged in the country home of the former Minister in Nasarawa village on Saturday for a political meeting but some angry youths reportedly stormed the venue and disrupted the meeting.

Daily Trust learnt that the rampaging youths, who were largely from Sara village, stormed the meeting with a view to unleash terror on Kila, for alleged poor representation in the House of Representatives; in the process, the thugs went gaga and attacked all the politicians.

It was gathered that police had to shoot sporadically into the air to disperse the thugs as the politicians scampered to safety. Our correspondent also learnt that in the process, most of their vehicles were vandalised.

Another source also told Daily Trust that the meeting which turned awry was part of the reconciliation process of the party in the LGA.

It will be recalled that a state level reconciliation committee for the party was inaugurated recently.

When contacted, the Police spokesperson of Jigawa command, SP Abdul Jinjiri, confirmed the incident but said it was a clash among political thugs, adding that it occurred after the meeting was concluded.

“10 out of the thugs had since been arrested by the police,” he said.