Emmanuel Awari, Jalingo with agency report
Two policemen were killed and two others sustained serious injuries in a clash between soldiers and police officers in Jalingo, Taraba state capital, on Monday.
Witnesses said a minor disagreement between soldiers and policemen on guard duty at INEC headquarters in the state snowballed into a crisis that lasted nearly an hour.
According to sources, soldiers, who sent policemen away from the INEC collation centre, later invaded police headquarters and chased away police officers on duty.
The injured policemen are currently being treated at Police Clinic, Jalingo. Some of the vehicles parked inside the state police command headquarters were reportedly vandalised during the incident.
Sporadic gun shots from the soldiers triggered panic among residents as shops, markets and houses were hurriedly shut as people scamper red to safety.
However, during a joint press conference, the Police Commissioner in the state, Suleiman Amodu, said a high-powered investigative panel would be set up to establish the cause of the incident.
The conference was attended by the Commandant, 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Jalingo, Brig General Frank Etim, and the state Director of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Meanwhile, Kano residents in the metropolis on Monday took to the streets celebrating the victory of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) candidates at the governorship and state assembly elections in spite of the curfew imposed by the state government.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Governor Umar Ganduje imposed a dawn to dusk curfew to avoid breakdown of law and order following tension generated from the collation of results of the Governorship and State Assembly elections.
NAN reports that Abba Yusuf of NNPP defeated his closest rival, the state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Yusuf polled 1,019, 602 votes against Gawuna’s 892,705.
The residents chanted victory songs and wielded placards with various inscriptions as they paraded in motorcades on the streets.
Some of the placards read “Alhamdulillah Kano is for Kwankwaso” and “Support for Abba Gida-Gida for progress of the state”, among others.
Displays by motorcyclists and tricyclists added colour to the celebrations.
Meanwhile, the APC in Kano State has enjoined its supporters to be calm, peaceful and resist acts of provocation following the emergence of the NNPP’s Abba Kabir-Yusuf as the winner of the Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
This is contained in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba on Monday in Kano.
He assured members and supporters of the party as well as people of the state of Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje administration’s commitment to protect lives and property.
According to Garba, the APC is carefully analysing the election process and collation of results with a view to taking decision at the appropriate time. He urged the members to continue to be resolute, loyal and faithful to the party
It would be recalled that Kano State Government on Monday imposed a dawn to dusk curfew to avoid breakdown of law and order following tensions generated from the collation of results of the governorship and state Assembly elections.
The state Commissioner for Information and internal affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba, made the announcement in a statement.
He said the decision was to prevent hoodlums from causing chaos in the already tensed situation.
The commissioner called on people in the state to remain indoors as security agents would not spare anyone or group bent on causing trouble.
NAN reports that INEC had declared Abba Yusuf of the NNPP winner of the Saturday’s governorship election in the state after beating the Deputy Governor, Yusuf Gawuna at the poll.
The results have generated tension in the state, prompting the government’s proactive measure to avert chaos.
.Thugs set APC campaigner, Rara’s house ablaze in Kano
Few hours after the results of the Kano state governorship election were announced, some unidentified thugs set fire to the home of renowned political singer Dauda Kahutu Rarara.
It would be recalled that Rara was the star of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign, performing at numerous rallies throughout the duration of the electioneering.
Yusuf Abdullahi, an eyewitness and local resident, alleged that the thugs broke into the home and began destroying valuables before setting it on fire.
The thugs were allegedly dispersed by the police a few minutes later, but the fire continued to burn and firefighters had not yet arrived at the scene.
As the fire continues to destroy property, all that could be heard outside the house are explosions, according to Abdullahi.
The New Nigerian People’s Party’s (NNPP) Abba Kabir Yusuf was declared the winner of the governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) early on Monday.
