Arsonists, suspected to be supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, on Friday set ablaze the campaign office of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar, in Bauchi.
The attack is believed to be a reprisal to Thursday’s attack on the convoy of President Goodluck Jonathan, where some political hoodlums, suspected to be members of the APC, pelted President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign convoy with stones and brooms on Nasarawa Street, Bauchi, on his way to the Emir’s Palace.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, was pelted by some ‘supporters’ at the venue of the Presidential Campaign rally in Bauchi.
Sources said that the angry youths attacked and vandalised the Bauchi South Senatorial District campaign office of Abubakar, located at Kobi Street, at about 2am.
A resident of the area, who confirmed the incident said, “We woke up and saw the office on fire and all the valuable things in the office had already been burnt and there was nothing we could do at that time to save the situation. We did not envisage that any reasonable person could do such a thing.”
Another resident, who equally craved anonymity, alleged that he saw a group of youths, who stormed the office in three Hilux vehicles; set the place ablaze and immediately drove off.
The source said the flame blazed for over two hours, fueled by the documents in the office.
Speaking with newsmen on Friday in Bauchi, Abubakar described the incident as unfortunate, barbaric and undemocratic and accused PDP supporters of masterminding the burning of the office, arguing that APC members could not burn their own office.
The governorship candidate described the APC as a peaceful party, restating the party’s determination to clinching the governorship seat in the state.
Abubakar warned those behind the burning of his campaign office to desist, calling on security agencies to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book.
“We in APC we are not violent people and we are guided by the simple principle of issue-based campaign and not violence.
“Our peaceful conduct is already giving us an edge over our opponents and we can never resort to violence at any point of our campaign,” he added.
Bauchi State Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, told our correspondent that he was still compiling his report on the incident.
“I am compiling the report and will send details to you as soon as am done,” the PPRO said.
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