Armed thugs attack Atiku’s rally in Maiduguri, scores wounded

Political intolerance and brigandage reared its ugly head in the nation’s electioneering on Wednesday as the convoy of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, was reportedly attacked in Maiduguri, Borno capital.

As soon as the campaign train hit Maiduguri, it was welcome by a hail of gunfire not from insurgents but by political thugs believed to be from a political party.

At least, 70 people were hospitalized as a result of the various degree of injury they sustained

Several vehicles in the convoy of Atiku at Ramat Square, venue of the rally, were vandalized by the thugs.

In the ensuing melee, PDP supporters who had massed at the venue scarpered to safety amid sporadic shootings.

The spokesman of the Atiku Campaign Council, Sen. Dino Melaye, blamed the attack on the ruling party in Borno, the APC.

Persecondnews recalls that Sen. Kashim Shettima, the APC Vice-Presidential Candidate, also hails from the state.

Melaye said: “They wanted to prevent us from holding the campaign, as we speak, 74 people were injured and hospitalized.

“APC thugs vandalized several vehicles.”

Apart from the attack at the rally, scores of suspected thugs were also spotted at strategic locations along Maiduguri/Kano Road in the state capital.