Pro-jonathan Rally Turns Violent In Kaduna, Several Injured

A pro-Jonathan political rally,
disguised as a Unity and Peace rally,
has ended abruptly on a tragic note
in Kaduna, with an unspecified
number of participants reportedly
injured, with some dripping with
blood.
At least two people were stabbed
and rushed to hospital while several
others suffered minor injuries after
participants began to use dangerous
weapons on one another, witnesses
said.
The rally, reportedly bankrolled by a
governor from the South-south
geopolitical zone, was organized
under the auspices of the Northern
Youth Forum, which has members in
the 19 northern states.
The governor is believed to have
shelled out N500million for the rally
meant to buoy President Jonathan’s
acceptance in the north ahead of the
2015 presidential election.
The participants, those familiar with
the organisation of the rally said,
were bused to Kaduna from all the
19 northern states and paid N3000
each.
In the invitations to participants,
organizer Jubril Tafida, a former
vice-chairman of a local government
in Kaduna and current youth leader
of the Northern Youth Forum, had
claimed the rally was called to
promote unity in the north.
But shortly after the event began at
the Murtala Muhammed Square in
central Kaduna, it dawned on
participants that the rally was
organised to drum up support for
the reelection bid of President
Goodluck Jonathan, witnesses said.
Muhammed Bello, who attended the
event, said the rally turned violent
after Mr. Tafilda and other speakers
began to heap praises on President
Jonathan in their speeches.
“As they praised Jonathan, some
elements in the crowd began
exhibiting campaign posters of the
President,” Mr. Bello said. “A lot of
participants became angry and they
started throwing stones and bottles
at the organizers. People started
running in different directions.
Some people were saying they don’t
want to hear Jonathan’s name at the
rally.”
Another witness said the police was
later called in to restore order.
“The police started shooting teargas
until everyone dispersed,” he said.
Spokesperson of the Kaduna state
police command, Aminu Lawan,
could not be reached to comment
for this story, as calls to his
telephone failed to connect.
Mr. Tafida’s telephone was also
switched off the several times our
reporter called.
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