Two people were killed in clashes between rival party supporters in northwest Nigeria, police and local residents said on Friday, on the eve of rescheduled general elections.
A boy looks at a vehicle vandalised following deadly clashes between supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Kofa in Bebeji district of Kano, economic nerve centre of northern Nigeria, on February 22, 2019. – Two people were killed, while 40 vehicles, 12 motorcycles and houses were burn following bloody clashes between supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kofa town, Bebeji district of Kano, northeast Nigeria ahead of tomorrow’s rescheduled presidential election
Pictures show a sign and a bus burnt following deadly clashes between supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Kofa in Bebeji district of Kano, economic nerve centre of northern Nigeria. – Two people were killed, while 40 vehicles, 12 motorcycles and houses were burnt following bloody clashes between supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kofa town, Bebeji district of Kano, northeast Nigeria ahead of tomorrow’s rescheduled presidential election.
Policemen stand as houses and vehicles are set on fire following deadly clashes between supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Kofa in Bebeji district of Kano, economic nerve centre of northern Nigeria, on February 22, 2019. – Two people were killed, while 40 vehicles, 12 motorcycles and houses were burn following bloody clashes between supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kofa town, Bebeji district of Kano, northeast Nigeria ahead of tomorrow’s rescheduled presidential election.
A man tries to run away from a rickety road side shop as cars are set on fire following deadly clashes between supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Kofa in Bebeji district of Kano, economic nerve centre of northern Nigeria, on February 22, 2019. – Two people were killed, while 40 vehicles, 12 motorcycles and houses were burn following bloody clashes between supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kofa town, Bebeji district of Kano, northeast Nigeria ahead of tomorrow’s rescheduled presidential election.
The deaths occurred on Thursday in the village of Kofa, some 70 kilometres (45 miles) from the city of Kano, as former state governor Rabiu Kwankwaso travelled to a political rally.
Nigerians go to the polls on Saturday to elect a new president and parliament, a week later than planned because of logistical difficulties in delivering ballot materials.
The delay has increased tensions between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stoking fears of violence and rigging.
But the deaths in Kano will further heighten concerns about unrest leading up to and during at governorship and local assembly elections, which are scheduled for March 9.
Nigeria’s Centre for Crisis Communication, which comprises representatives from security agencies, on Friday said Kano was one of 12 election flashpoints around the country.
The PDP said Kwankwaso’s convoy was forced to stop by supporters of his former ally Abdulmumini Kofa, who is close to the current APC governor of Kano, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Ganduje was Kwankwaso’s deputy but the pair have fallen out and become bitter rivals since he took office in 2015. Kwankwaso, however, retains a strong following.
Police in Kofa denied local newspaper reports that five people had been killed.
The police death toll was supported by Bebeji local government secretary Mohammed Sani Dan-Arewa, who is close to Mumini. He said: “They killed two of our people.”
He added that four others were injured while the PDP said 10 were wounded, most of them women.
Retired air commodore Yusuf Anas, warned politicians and community leaders “to advise their subjects against involvement in any activity capable of inciting violence that could have negative effects on the electoral processes”
