5 feared dead as Kwankwaso, Jibrin supporters clash

No fewer than five persons were allegedly killed on Thursday at Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State as supporters of former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabi’u Kwankwaso and former House Committee chairman on Appropriation, Rep. Abdulmumuni Jibrin Kofa, engaged in a bloody clash. According to eyewitness account, trouble started when Senator Kwankwaso’s convoy, while returning from a campaign rally, passed through an open space where Jibrin and his supporters were praying for the peaceful conduct of the general elections. The Police had granted Kwankwaso the permit to campaign in Bebeji knowing that the campaign train will pass through Jubrin’s stronghold while the former House Committee Chairman on Appropriation who applied for the same permit was withheld on the grounds that the former governor’s convoy would pass through same route to avoid a possible clash with the opposition’s campaign train. It was gathered that Kwankwaso’s convoy while on their return was attacked by Jubrin’s supporters under the excuse that the convoy disrupted an ongoing prayer session, leading to the bloody clash that reportedly led to the death of five people, while many others from both sides were injured. According to another eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, “it was, indeed, a bloody sight. The Kwankwaso people had provoked Jubrin’s supporters who were conducting a peaceful prayer session for the peaceful conduct of the elections. “I counted five dead bodies which were moved away on a police Hilux Van. Many vehicles were set ablaze; and buildings around the Jubrin’s neighbourhood were also burnt.” Confirming the incident, Jubrin told our correspondent on telephone that Senator KwanKwaso’s supporters attacked him and his group on their way back from Bebeji and Kiru Local Governments. According to him, over 60 vehicles were burnt aside from his residence. He alleged the mobile Police attached to Senator Kwankwaso shot sporadically for more than one hour, which resulted to death of many. But the spokesman of the PDP governorship candidate, Mallam Sanusi Tofa, accused Jubrin’s supporters of launching attack on Kwankwaso’s convoy.