The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, has ordered an investigation into the violence that disrupted the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Lafia. The clash, which occurred on Wednesday, resulted in approximately 40 injuries.
During a State Executive Council meeting on Thursday, Sule expressed concerns about the actions of security agencies, particularly regarding the use of tear gas near the rally’s podium. He labeled the incident as both embarrassing and unacceptable, especially given the attendance of the Vice President, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Governor Sule instructed security agencies to thoroughly investigate all individuals connected to the incident, emphasizing that the investigation should extend beyond the arrest of a few suspected youths. He stressed the need to identify and hold accountable those who orchestrated the disruption.
The governor voiced his discontent over reports suggesting that plans to disrupt the rally existed prior to the event. He highlighted a reported attack on the Vice President’s convoy and incidents of objects being thrown at the podium, advocating for restraint in political disagreements to prevent further violence.
In related remarks, the state government previously linked former governor Umaru Al-Makura and SDP governorship candidate Adamu Abubakar to the violence, indicating a need for accountability regarding the actions of factions allegedly involved in the unrest.
