Hoodlums attack APC campaign rally in Abuja, burn nine vehicles

Suspected hoodlums, on Saturday, attacked the campaign convoy of the All Progressives Congress in the Dei-Dei area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The convoy, comprising the FCT Minister’s Chief of Staff, Bashir Mai-Borno; the APC Chairman in the FCT, Abdulmalik Usman; the Director-General, FCT Campaign Council, Musa Mohammed; candidates of the party for various offices in the forthcoming elections as well as other supporters, was attacked while on its way to the palace of the Sarkin Jiwa.

About nine vehicles in the convoy were set ablaze, while several others had their windscreens smashed.

The convoy was reportedly pelted with rocks and other missiles, while few individuals sustained injuries in the attack.

The media aide to the FCT Minister, Abubakar Sani, explained in a statement that other motorists were also not spared as their vehicles suffered serious damages, adding that no life was lost.

The hoodlums were said to have blocked the road around the Timber Market, Dei-Dei, preventing the APC convoy from proceeding to the palace of the Sarkin Jiwa.

They were said to have taken advantage of a Peoples Democratic Party rally, which was also being held around the Dei-Dei Timber Market, to unleash mayhem on the APC convoy.

The security detail attached to the office of the FCT minister and others covering the event, however, responded by firing shots into the air to calm the situation.

The convoy was again attacked around the same spot while it was returning from the palace and heading for the grand finale of the campaign rally at the Old Parade Ground; it was during the second confrontation that nine vehicles were set ablaze, according to the statement.

 

Reacting, Mohammed described the attack as unfortunate, adding that intelligence information suggested that it might have been premeditated.

The DG was, however, quick to dispel the notion that some PDP supporters or ethnic elements were behind the incident.