Security increased after Taraba poll violence

Security increased after Taraba poll violence

Security increased after Taraba poll violence

Soldiers patrolled the streets and
residents surveyed damage to their
homes and businesses in eastern Nigeria
on Monday, after deadly violence linked
to the appointment of the country’s first
female governor.
At least seven people were killed and 15
injured on Sunday in clashes between
supporters of the ousted governor of
Taraba state, Darius Ishaku, and Aisha
Alhassan in the town of Wukari,
according to police.
Alhassan, who is a minister-designate in
President Muhammadu Buhari’s
government, appealed against Ishaku’s
victory in governorship polls in April
and on Saturday an election tribunal
annulled his win.
Ishaku, from the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), indicated he would appeal
the ruling, which dismissed his
candidacy on the grounds the PDP had
not followed correct procedure to
nominate him.
The tribunal declared Alhassan, a lawyer
known to her supporters as “Mama
Taraba”, the winner.
Nigeria has never had a female governor
in its 55-year independent history.
It would be another first for Nigerian
elections this year, as Buhari became the
first opposition leader to unseat an
incumbent in the presidential vote in
March.
Shehu Mohammed, a Muslim community
leader in Wukari, some 220 kilometres
(140 miles) from the state capital Jalingo,
said 21 houses and businesses had been
torched in the violence.
“So far, it is calm in the town. Soldiers
are on the streets on patrol,” he told AFP
by telephone.
“Occasionally they stop by crowds of
people discussing the incident and advise
them to remain calm and go about their
daily business.
“All the homes affected in the violence
were completely burnt. Nothing can be
salvaged from these homes but owners
are still going in there to examine the
extent of the damage.”
Mohammed said those made homeless by
the violence were staying in local
mosques and security chiefs from the
state were in town to talk to community
leaders to prevent a fresh outbreak of
violence.
Muslim supporters of Alhassan clashed
with Christian backers of Ishaku in
religiously divided Wukari, which has
previously been a flashpoint of
communal violence.
Daniel Musa, a local resident, added:
“Fighting stopped yesterday. People are
only now counting their losses. Home
have been burnt, businesses have been
destroyed
“But now soldiers are on the streets,
there’s no sign of trouble this morning.”

Aisha Jummai Alhassan