The recent attack on the campaign train of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, has been described as an ominious signal ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Media reports had confirmed that the attack by suspected political thugs, who pelted the convoy with stones and dangerous weapons, caused bodily injuries to some people, including journalists and wanton damages to many vehicles on the campaign train.
But reacting to the attack, a socio-political group, South West Media Outreach for Atiku Abubakar, in a press release signed by its Coordinator, Mr. Kola Ilori, took a swipe at the unwarranted attack, describing it as sinister and irresponsible.
The South West Media Outreach insisted that the attack on the Atiku Abubakar campaign train, particularly on innocent journalists, who were on official assignment, was a bad omen for democracy and socio-political development of the country.
Recall that it was widely reported that the attack on the convoy took place on its way to the venue of the campaign rally, after paying homage to the Shehu of Borno in his palace.
Ilori averred that it was strange that the Borno State Police Command denied the incident, in spite of the audio and visual evidence of the attack.
He added that although the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Alkali Baba, has debunked the claims of his men in Borno State by instituting a panel to investigate the attack, which goes to show that there are dangers ahead of the 2023 elections.
The group warned, “It is incumbent on the Police and other security agencies to brace up and ensure that campaigns are not marred by violence of any form.
“The rush by the Borno State Police to deny events that was trending on social media has further damaged the capability of the police of neutrality in the coming elections.
Ilori added that “the signals from Borno State portends danger that should not be swept under the carpet, and this is why the outcome of the intervention by the IGP should restore the confidence that the 2023 elections would be violence free.”
The group, therefore, commended the PDP presidential candidate Alhaji Abubakar for his “demonstrated statesmanship, as a man of peaceful disposition by urging his supporters in Borno State not to retaliate.”
