APC ward congresses: Hoodlums raze Ningi LGC secretariat

HOODLUMS believed to be political thugs loyal to a faction of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Saturday evening set fire and burnt down the secretariat of Ningi local government council of Bauchi State.

A source who witnessed the incident told our Correspondent that the political thugs stormed the secretariat at about 6 pm on Saturday and set it on fire aftermath of the ward congresses of the party held in the area.

The source further revealed that results of the congresses in some wards of the local government area did not go down well with a faction of the APC in the area and directed the supporters to ensure that ‘justice’ was done.

He added that the political thugs stormed the secretariat chanting the name of a particular politician from the area who is believed not be satisfied with the conduct and outcome of the ward congresses.

It was gathered that the candidates sponsored by the said politician lost in all the wards of the local government alleging that the exercise was not free and fair as people were denied the chance to freely choose their leaders.

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Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the act of arson that was committed in Ningi which was an aftermath of the conduct of the APC ward congresses of last Saturday.

The PPRO, DSP Kamal Datti Abubakar in a telephone conversation told our correspondent that so far one suspect has been arrested by the Police in connection with the incidence assuring that efforts are ongoing to arrest all those who took part in the criminal act.

Kamal Datti Abubakar, however, said that the Command cannot as at the time of filing this report confirm the sponsors of the criminal act but said that it may not be unconnected with the conduct of the ward congresses held across the state.

He assured that the Command is ready to deal with any act of criminality pointing out that all those fingered in the arson will be apprehended and prosecuted according to the laws of the land immediately investigations were completed.

All efforts to get the state leadership of the APC to react to the incident failed as all the phones of those contacted were switched off.