Four killed, 63 arrested as rival political party supporters clash in Kano

BUSINESS activities came to a halt in the commercial city of Kano, yesterday, following clashes between rival political party supporters along Zaria Road.
Tension peaked after major political parties resolved to hold the grand finale of their rallies, ahead of tomorrow’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Hundred of political party supporters laid siege along Zaria road, attacking innocent members of the public.

The incident led to the death of four persons, while many others sustained varying degrees of injuries. Also, men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) arrested 63 persons.

The attackers were armed with dangerous weapons. During the clash, four cars were burnt and many others destroyed. In a press conference, NSCDC Public Relations Officer in Kano, Ibrahim Abdullahi, confirmed the arrest.

He said: “We have arrested about 63 suspected thugs disrupting public peace, wielding dangerous weapons, burning vehicles and snatching handsets from people. They are going to be investigated and taken to court for prosecution.”

The political parties scheduled to hold rallies in the state are: the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Action Alliance (AA).

The police command in Kano had advised parties in the state to suspend all rallies billed for yesterday to avoid violent clashes, after efforts to reach an accord among them failed.