Journalists Attacked, Radio Nigeria Vehicle Damaged After APC Rally In Kano
Journalists returning from an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Kano State narrowly escaped a potentially serious attack on Saturday after suspected political thugs armed with machetes and knives assaulted their vehicle and injured the driver.
The incident occurred behind the City Campus of North West University, Kofar Nassarawa, shortly after the journalists left the Sani Abacha Stadium, venue of the APC event where the Tinubu Support Group rally was launched and new party members were received.
According to Daily Trust, the attackers targeted a Radio Nigeria bus conveying journalists and three policemen who had reportedly been given a lift from the stadium. The assailants smashed the vehicle’s rear glass and repeatedly struck its windows despite the presence of security personnel.
A Pyramid FM journalist, Yakubu Abubakar Gwagwarwa, confirmed the incident, saying four Radio Nigeria staff members, a journalist from Guarantee Radio and the three policemen were inside the vehicle when the attack occurred. He said the occupants were forced to turn back in an attempt to escape the attackers.
Gwagwarwa said the driver sustained injuries during the assault, while some occupants were struck by fragments of the shattered glass. He added that the attackers continued pursuing the vehicle even after the occupants attempted to retreat, heightening concerns over the safety of journalists covering political activities.
The journalist, however, said he did not believe the incident was necessarily directed specifically at the media crew, describing it as appearing to be a random attack in which other people could also have been victims. The incident nonetheless raises fresh concerns over the security of journalists and other citizens during political gatherings in the state.
The attack comes amid previous reports of violence linked to political activities in Kano, including an earlier incident in which at least three people were reportedly killed during the inauguration of a new deputy governor. The police had yet to issue an official statement on Saturday’s attack as of the time of filing the report.
