At least one person is reported dead while several others were seriously injured when rival groups clashed during the annual Durbar popularly called ‘Hawan Daushe’ held in Bauchi to celebrate the Eid El Fitri Sallah marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan fasting.
Reports have it that the clash took place around the Deputy Governor’s office along Yakubun Bauchi road when the procession of the Emir of Bauchi was heading to the Government House for the Durbar.
A source told our Tribune Online that the clash was as a result of an earlier attack around Central Bank roundabout when the procession was heading to the Government House for the Durbar which is usually held to honour the Governor by the Emir of Bauchi and his traditional title holders.
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The source narrated that among the traditional title holders are members of the APC who lost the gubernatorial election and were said to be taunted by the supporters of the PDP who won the gubernatorial election and are now in power a development which was said to have annoyed the APC supporters.
The source added that some of the aggrieved people then mobilized and laid siege on the way the procession was expected to follow to the Government House and attacked those suspected to have taunted them earlier on.
Reports have it that among those injured in the clash are several people from Duguri the Governor’s village and Darazo where the incumbent Speaker of the State House of Assembly hails from.
It was further gathered that all the injured are presently receiving treatment at both the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) and the State-owned Specialist Hospital at Ran road.
While confirming the incident, Bauchi State Police Command through the PPRO, DSP Kamal Datti Abubakar, stated that: “Today 05/06/2019 at about 1130hrs during Dubar Procession, when District Heads of Bauchi Emirate was paying homage to the Governor of Bauchi State at Government House Bauchi, Groups of hunters following the District Heads of Darazo and that of Duguri had a clash as a result one Auwalu Sadau of Darazo LGA lost his life after sustaining injuries from dane gun shot while Usama Musa of Duguri district, Alkaleri LGA and Zakari Suleiman of Darazo LGA with 12 others sustained injuries and are now receiving treatment at ATBUTH”.
The PPRO added that: “However, Prompt action of Bauchi Police command’s Tactical Commanders of Operation Puff Adder restored normalcy and arrested 55 suspects while the following exhibits were recovered from the suspects”.
The items recovered from the suspects according to the PPRO included, 46 Matchets, 13 Knives, 15 Daggers (Gario ), 0ne (1) Dane Gun and 13 Bamboo sticks adding that investigation is in progress into the case.
Meanwhile, both the Governor, Bala Muhammad Abdulkadir and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Kawuwa Shehu Damina as well as the Commissioner of Police, Sani Ahmadu have paid sympathy visits to the victims of the clash at the ATBUTH.