Violence breaks out in Kano, journalists attacked

Suspected thugs disrupted the electoral process at Suntulma  Gama Primary School in Nassarawa local government area of Kano state on Saturday, sending voters away from their polling units.

The suspects who wore T-shirts with inscription of one of the two leading political parties brandished weapons freely.

Among the journalists attacked were Maduabuchi Nmeribe of The Authority, and Kola Oyelere of Tribune.

NAN said trouble began at the primary school when the reporters tried to interview some voters who were denied access into the classrooms where some of the polling units were stationed.

While trying to escape during the attack, some of the journalists fell on ground and one of them had to take refuge in a nearby mosque.

A reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) was attacked in  Minjibir local government area of Kano while his vehicle was damaged (pictured).

Speaking to reporters, some voters alleged that they were not allowed to exercise their franchise as they were chased out of the area.

Aminu Tijjani, a resident, said he went to the primary school to cast his vote at his polling unit but had to return to escape the attack.

“The situation is very bad and this is not how to conduct an election where people or voters are denied the opportunity to vote,” Tijjani said.

Another voter, Sani Abdullahi, said he came to vote as early as 8am but was scared away by the suspected thugs numbering about 10.

Meanwhile, voting has commenced in other affected polling units across the 28 local government areas of the state.

The contest in Kano is between Abba Kabir-Yusuf of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 1,014,477 votes, and Abdullahi Ganduje, incumbent governor of the state and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who got 987,810 votes in the first poll conducted on March 9.

The margin between the candidates is 26,655 votes while 128, 572 votes were cancelled.