Tension gripped Kaduna on Saturday when suspected political thugs disrupted the inauguration of a transition committee jointly formed by opposition parties in the state.
The committee, which brought together members of a faction of the All Progressives Congress opposed to the current state leadership alongside the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, Social Democratic Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, and African Democratic Congress, had convened in Kaduna for the official launch.
Eyewitnesses said the event quickly turned chaotic as hoodlums armed with cutlasses, clubs, and stones invaded the venue, injuring participants and vandalising vehicles.
Despite the violence, the organisers continued with the inauguration under heightened tension. Witnesses, however, accused police officers deployed to the scene of standing idle.
“The police stood by and did nothing while the thugs unleashed violence. Their inaction was shocking and unacceptable,” one eyewitness told journalists.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who attended the gathering, strongly condemned the attack, describing it as “a dangerous descent into lawlessness.”
“If the authorities don’t end the introduction of thuggery into Kaduna politics, God help us,” El-Rufai said. “Nobody has a monopoly on violence or thugs. We will take decisive steps to ensure this does not repeat itself.”
He further accused senior police officers, including an Assistant Commissioner of Police, of failing to act and vowed to escalate the matter to the Police Service Commission.
Also speaking, ADC National Vice Chairman (North-West), Jafaru Sani, described the incident as “sad and unfortunate,” stressing that Kaduna’s long history of political violence must not be allowed to continue.
“We will never be intimidated or forced to retreat,” Sani said. “Our political activities will go on with full energy and determination.”
In response, Kaduna APC Secretary, Alhaji Yahaya Baba-Pate, distanced the ruling party from the attack, insisting that the APC does not promote political thuggery.
“The ADC and other opposition groups are free to carry out their activities without harassment,” Baba-Pate said.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, confirmed that the command would issue an official statement regarding the incident.
