A woman in Kaduna State has reportedly sustained injuries after being allegedly assaulted for criticising what she described as a lack of public enthusiasm for Governor Uba Sani during President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to the state.
The incident reportedly occurred after an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally connected to Tinubu’s visit, with the woman expressing disappointment that residents had not organised public displays of support for their governor.
According to footage obtained by SaharaReporters, the woman had questioned why Kaduna residents did not welcome Sani with the kind of excitement, music and promotional displays often associated with visits by governors to other states.
Speaking in Hausa, she argued that the absence of songs, posters and other visible expressions of solidarity for Sani was disappointing, particularly when supporters elsewhere were known to celebrate their governors during similar occasions.
She maintained that political differences should not prevent residents from publicly appreciating their leaders, insisting that Kaduna should not appear less supportive of its governor than other states.
However, subsequent videos showed the woman crying and bleeding from injuries to her forehead and nose. She was seen lying on the ground before being helped into a tricycle, while security personnel were reportedly present at the scene.
Friends who were said to have witnessed the incident reportedly came to her rescue and helped her leave the area.
Witnesses also alleged that police officers at the scene watched as the woman was attacked without taking effective action to stop the assault or arrest those responsible.
The circumstances surrounding the reported attack, including the identities of the alleged assailants and what triggered the violence, remain unclear based on the available account.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of citizens expressing political opinions in public, particularly during politically charged gatherings. Freedom of expression and peaceful political participation are fundamental democratic principles, and disagreements over support for elected officials should not be settled through violence.
