Chaos broke out on Wednesday in Tarabu village, Kirikasamma Local Government Area of Jigawa State, as angry youths attacked top government officials during the flag-off ceremony of a road project led by Governor Umar Namadi Danmodi.
The event, which marked the commencement of a 23.4-kilometre road construction from Tarabu to Gafta, turned violent shortly after the ceremony.
Eyewitnesses reported that aggrieved youths pelted stones at the governor’s convoy and other official vehicles, damaging several cars, including those belonging to security personnel and senior government officials.
Among those who narrowly escaped unharmed were the Chairman of Kirikasamma LGA, Alhaji Muhammad Maji, and Hon. Abubakar Fulata, who represents Guri/Kirikasamma/Birniwa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Locals said the attack was aimed primarily at Hon. Fulata, who they accuse of neglecting his constituency and failing to deliver developmental projects, unlike his peers in neighboring areas.
In another disturbing event in the same community, a man known as Malam narrowly escaped lynching after he was allegedly caught trying to remove the eye of a corpse at a local cemetery.
A local resident who had gone to the cemetery to cut grass witnessed the act and quietly alerted others.
The suspect fled to the palace of the District Head of Kiri-Kasamma seeking refuge, but a crowd quickly formed and began to beat him. Security forces intervened and rescued the suspect, who is now in police custody for investigation.
Eyewitnesses said the angry mob also damaged the security vehicle used to transport the suspect.
The police have yet to issue an official statement, as attempts to reach the Jigawa State Police Public Relations Officer were unsuccessful.
In a related case, the Bauchi State Police Command reported the arrest of 17-year-old Auwalu Muhammad, who allegedly gouged out both eyes of his sister, Rukayya Muhammad, for a suspected money ritual.
The incident occurred on October 17 in Wailo, Ganjuwa Local Government Area.
According to police, the suspect lured his sister into the bush and mutilated her in a failed bid to acquire wealth.
