We are investigating Atiku convoy attack in Borno – Alkali assures

The Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has revealed that a team is being set up to thoroughly investigate the matter in light of recent attacks on political party rallies by suspected hoodlums, the most recent of which was the convoy of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in Borno.

IGP Alkali-Baba explained at today’s 57th ministerial briefing that the state PRO’s assessment may have been too quick and inconclusive, necessitating the creation of a team to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the various narratives in order to determine the reality and avoid a repeat of the incident.

He claimed that political campaigns and rallies are monitored and given the best protection possible, especially when timely information is given about such events.

The police chief admitted that while the Police Specialized Automated Services (POSSAB) portal has been abused, some aspects of police work have been commercialized to increase revenue.

However, Alkali Baba disproved the notion that dishonest people could use the portal to obtain protection from the police. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denounced the attack in Borno State on Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign convoy.

When thugs attacked Atiku’s convoy in Maiduguri, the state capital, on Wednesday, a large number of his supporters were hurt.

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RNN.NG had reported that Atiku’s convoy was attacked just as he left the Palace of the Shehu of Borno to Ramat Square, the venue of the presidential rally.

Several vehicles were vandalized during the attack, which Senator Dino Melaye, the spokesperson for the PDP presidential campaign, blamed on the APC.

Bayo Onanuga, the director of media and publicity for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, however, asserted that the APC was not involved in the violence and suggested that the attack may have been the result of intra-PDP faction fighting in Borno State.

Melaye claimed that dozens of vehicles were vandalized and that 70 people were hospitalized despite the fact that no fatalities were immediately reported.

Speaking on the violence, Melaye explained that the APC deployed the hoodlums to prevent the PDP’s campaign in the state, adding that their convoy was pelted with stones, sticks, and machetes as they left the Shehu of Borno’s Palace to the Ramat Square, the venue of the PDP presidential rally, all in an attempt to frustrate the program.

He lamented that the thugs were deployed in many strategic locations ‘’but we want to assure them that nobody can stop us.’’

Confirming the attack, the Borno State PDP Chairman, Zanna Gaddama said, ‘’It is true that some miscreants from the APC attacked Atiku’s convoy along the road from the airport to Shehu’s palace.

“They attacked at three locations – one after (Jagwal) cellphone market, another around one of the roundabouts on the road, and by the House of Sir Kashim Ibrahim (the governor of the defunct Northern Region) just before the Shehu’s palace.’’

The party boss further explained that injured party supporters were taken to the hospital for medical attention.

“We will write to the police to complain about what happened so they can investigate and bring the culprits to book,” he concluded.