Unidentified thugs have attacked supporters and vehicles of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) while en route to receive the party's presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, along Na’ibawa-Zaria road in Kano.
The attack occurred on Thursday and resulted in the burning of several vehicles while at least ten were attacked. The incident happened while Kwankwaso was on his way to Kano for the grand finale of his presidential campaign rally.
An eyewitness, Tasiu Lawal, who narrowly escaped the attack, explained how they were attacked by the thugs. Lawal revealed that they were told that the thugs were waiting for them, so they waited at Na’ibawa and ensured they were many before proceeding.
Unfortunately, the thugs emerged from all angles and started attacking them, including women, with machetes.
The attack is coming less than 24 hours after the parties participating in the election and their candidates signed a second peace accord in Abuja. Security operatives, including soldiers, police, and men of the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps, have been deployed to the scene to control the situation.
The incident is just one of the many electoral violence witnessed during the Nigerian election season. Electoral violence has been a reoccurring issue in the country's election, with the 2015 general elections resulting in over 1000 people killed.
The violence is usually perpetrated by political thugs hired by politicians to disrupt opposing rallies or attack their supporters.
The violence usually starts with the destruction of campaign posters and billboards and escalates to attacks on supporters, property, and eventually death.
Many believe that the lack of prosecution for perpetrators of election violence is the main reason for the reoccurrence of these events.
The inability of the security operatives to arrest and prosecute the thugs hired to perpetrate violence during elections has been a major setback to curbing the act.
The government and other stakeholders have been advised to create a mechanism for the proper prosecution of perpetrators of election violence to curb the menace.
Meanwhile, the NNPP has condemned the attack on their supporters, describing it as "barbaric and unfortunate."
The party called on the government to ensure that those responsible for the attack are arrested and prosecuted.
The party also urged its supporters to remain calm and peaceful and not retaliate. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also condemned the attack, stating that it is a threat to peaceful elections.
The commission urged politicians to play by the rules and ensure that their supporters do not perpetrate violence during the election.
