Bauchi PDP condemns killing, shooting of innocent people during APC campaign rally

SELYA YARNAP, Bauchi

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bauchi State chapter has condemned the shooting of a group of people in Akuyam area which led  to the  death of one person during the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate  campaign rally in Misau Local Government .

Addressing journalists at the Government House on Wednesday, the Director-General, Bala Mohammed 2023 Campaign Council, Farouk Mustapha, said the incident was unfortunate and condemnable situation.

He said “Information reaching our Campaign Council indicated that the security agents attached to the gubernatorial candidate of the APC, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar (rtd) fatally shot two people, Saleh Garba, 35 years old and Yakubu Yunusa, 20 years old at Akuyam Town in Misau LGA where the APC gubernatorial candidate went for a campaign rally on Monday, 30th January 2023.”

“According to an eyewitness, the chant of “Ba ma yi, Ba ma yi” rent the air, specifically to show their rejection of the APC and its gubernatorial candidate which the Police attached to him found offensive and started positioning themselves in different postures that is more aggressive.”

Farouk Mustapha said: “Suddenly the overzealous security agents started shooting into the crowd and the bullets struck many people but two young persons were hit while others sustained serious gunshot injuries”.

“We were equally informed that the rally ended abruptly and the gubernatorial candidate left the venue not minding to see the injured victims.”

“The injured victims were rushed to a nearby hospital, FMC Azare for treatment. We are sad to announce that one of the victims, 20 year-old died in the hospital due to the gunshot in the early hours of yesterday (Tuesday), 31st January, 2023 and has since been buried according to Islamic rites. The Bauchi State Police Command through its PPRO has since confirmed the incident”.

He stated that “consequently, the PDP campaign council is saddened with this ugly incident, especially as it relates to the cause of the death of Yunusa Yakubu.”

“By this press conference, we wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to his immediate family, his people of Akuyam and the entire people of Bauchi State. We condemned in its totality, the use of force by security agents attached to opposition parties in the state to harass and maim innocent citizens of the state; we call on relevant security agencies to investigate the matter and bring the culprits to book any erring security personnel found to be culpable”, he said.