By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
Suspected political thugs armed with dangerous weapons attacked the Bauchi State Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction, injuring several members and vandalising multiple vehicles.
The violence broke out during a political gathering hosted by the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led PDP faction to affirm Hon. Usman Adamu Sufi as its governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections.
It was gathered that at the hoodlums stormed the venue along the Maiduguri bypass while the official declaration program was still ongoing inside the hall.
The attackers targeted infrastructure and vehicles parked outside the premises.
Initial source reports indicate up to 15 buses were damaged, though faction officials later verified that at least five vehicles had their windscreens and side windows smashed by three youths operating on a motorcycle.
Thugs tore down campaign posters and destroyed billboards situated within and around the party secretariat premises.Casualties: Multiple party supporters sustained varying degrees of injuries during the resulting chaos.
Speaking at a press conference, the faction’s Ex-Officio member, Mohammed Sabo Abubakar, strongly condemned the incident.
He characterized the assault as a severe threat to peaceful political engagement in Bauchi State.
“We believe those responsible may have been sponsored by political opponents, but we are not making direct accusations against any individual or group,” Abubakar stated.
He warned that unchecked political thuggery risks plunging the state into wider unrest, drawing parallels to violent political escalations witnessed during the 2007 and 2015 election cycles.
Abubakar cautioned local youths against letting themselves be used as tools for political violence and intimidation.
The PDP officially called upon the state government and Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed to intervene.
“As the leader of the state, the Governor has the powers to guarantee a secure, fair, and harassment-free political environment for all political groups as early preparations for the 2027 elections begin.” he said.
When contacted for an official response, the spokesperson for the Bauchi State Police Command, SP Nafiu Habib, stated that he would verify the details of the incident. The police command had not released a formal statement regarding the attack.
