Supporters of a former former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, have clashed with a rival gang loyal to a former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Ganye, Adamawa state.
Messrs Atiku and Kwankwaso vied for the APC’s presidential ticket in the party’s primaries.
Jada, located in the southern part of the state, is Mr Atiku’s birthplace.
Messrs Atiku and Bindow had visited the town on Wednesday ahead of a turbaning ceremony Thursday, were they also launched a political tour of three local governments of the Ganye Chiefdom.
Witnesses said those attacked were members of Kwankwasiyya movement in the town who were supporting Mr Kwankwaso’s presidential bid, in opposition to Mr Atiku’s.
A resident of the town, Bamanga Mohammed, who spoke on phone with our reporter alleged that an associate of the former vice president, simply called Arabo was the one who brought in the suspected thugs from neighbouring Gombe and Bauchi states.
The thugs were said to have gone after anybody wearing red cap, a symbol for support for Kwankwaso and those wearing black cap, signifying support for former Adamawa state governor, Murtala Nyako.
“As I am talking to you at least ten of our youths are in the hospital because of the serious nature of the wounds inflicted on them. Sadly, the whole scenerio played out before the eyes of policemen who took no action.
“We are saddened that someone who claimed to be from this town will import thugs from another state to launch attack on his own people for expressing their political choice,” he said.
He said residents of the area have decided to petition the inspector general of police, the National Human Rights Commission and other concerned institutions over the attack.
Contacted, Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Obi said there was no way one could ascertain whether the attackers were Atiku’s supporters or not.
“How do you determine who is Atiku’s supporter among such a crowd? Are they wearing any t-shirt, or is it written in their faces?” he queried.
