POLICE ARREST 14 SUSPECTS OVER ATTACK ON APC SUPPORTERS’ CONVOY IN KATSINA

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By ‘Sefiu Ajape

The Katsina State Police Command has arrested 14 suspects over an attack on a convoy of All Progressives Congress supporters along the Yashi–Funtua road in Malumfashi Local Government Area of the state.

The attack occurred on Wednesday as the convoy travelled through Malumfashi to Funtua for a campaign flag-off.

Suspected political thugs armed with knives and stones allegedly attacked the convoy and passing commercial vehicles, smashing the windscreens of several vehicles and injuring a female motorist travelling in a commercial vehicle.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, and made available to journalists.

Sadiq said police operatives deployed along the route responded swiftly to restore order and apprehend the suspects.

The statement read, “The command had made adequate security arrangements and deployed personnel along key routes and identified locations, including the Yashi–Funtua road, ahead of the campaign event.

“However, an unlawful assembly of suspected political thugs armed with knives and stones began hurling stones at the convoy of APC supporters and passing commercial vehicles.”

The police said the attack damaged several vehicles and left a female motorist injured.

The arrested suspects were identified as Sagir Musa Maikudi, 35; Abubakar Aliyu, 21; Fahat Aminu, 25; Mubarak Kabir, 27; Shamsu Aliyu, 29; Buhari Adamu, 20; Imrana Dalha, 20; Suleiman Sani, 20; Ismail Nasir, 22; Abdulganiyu Babangida, 23; Hassan Gambo, 17; Abbas Tukur, 22; Gaddafi Sani, 25; and Abdulkadir Muktar, 18.

The command added that efforts were ongoing to track down other suspects who fled the scene.

Condemning the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar Fage, warned against political violence during the electioneering period.

He stressed that the command would not tolerate political thuggery or any conduct capable of threatening public peace before, during, or after elections.

“The command will not tolerate any form of political thuggery, violence, or actions capable of breaching public peace before, during, or after the electioneering period,” the statement quoted the commissioner as saying.

The police said investigations into the incident were ongoing, adding that further developments would be communicated to the public.

The attack comes amid political campaign activities in Katsina State ahead of the 2027 general elections.