No fewer than three persons on Monday sustained varying degrees of injury in a clash involving a local gang, Kalare Boys, and supporters of Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was in Gombe, for his presidential campaign.
Three vehicles, a bus, a car and one Keke NAPEP, were damaged as they were ambushed along Pantami Stadium Road.
The Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Usman Muritala, said he was not aware since he was not included in the campaign planning.
“I was not on the podium and was only there as an official of the party so I sat like every other person to watch the whole show. There is a division in the party, a very big one,” he said.
Trouble began after Abubakar left with his entourage through Gate Number Two of Pantami Stadium for Bauchi.
The Kalare boys, who were armed with cutlasses, swords, clubs and other weapons, pounced on innocent party supporters, who were on their way to their respective houses.
The police, who were manning Gate Number One of the stadium, quickly dispersed a detachment of armed policemen to the second gate to provide security for supporters, who were rushing back into the stadium for safety.
Many supporters were stranded at the stadium waiting for the police to restore peace and order as the Kalare boys blocked the route to Pantami Market and Government House, attacking passersby.
Some PDP women supporters had to attach themselves with police vans to avoid being attacked by the thugs.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mahid Abubakar, said he was in a programme and could not confirm the clash.
Earlier, Atiku had promised to return peace to Gombe by ending the activities of Boko Haram and revamping the dam in the state.
He said, “I promise you that if you elect me, what we have started, I will ensure that the electricity that will be provided from Dakin-Kowa Dam will be sufficient for the entire North-East. I will enhance farming so that our farmers will have the opportunity to farm both during rainy and dry seasons.
“I will return peace to the state because without peace all these pledges that I made cannot be actualised. I will wipe out Boko Haram. Boko Haram is nothing. We have wiped out Boko Haram in Adamawa, what will stop us from wiping out Boko Haram in Borno or Yobe or anywhere they are in this country?
“I promise you that if you elect me, I will ensure that the electricity that will be provided from Dakin-Kowa Dam will be sufficient for the entire North-East. I will enhance farming so that our farmers will have the opportunity to farm both during rainy and dry seasons.”
He noted that if Nigerians gave him the mandate, he would be another Tafawa Balewa.
