The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its supporters in Nasarawa State have staged a peaceful protest against political violence and called on the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the attack on Vice President Kashim Shettima during his visit to the state.
The protesters, led by the State APC Chairman, Dr Aliyu Bello, on Monday in Lafia, visited Nasarawa State Police Command and the DSS Command at Government House to convey a message of displeasure over repeated attacks on APC supporters by the opposition party.
“We are here to convey a message of peace, a message of togetherness and a message of decent politics. We have witnessed a lot of attacks from the opposition side,” Bello said.
He alleged that the party had written several letters to security agencies naming alleged suspects, but no action had been taken, adding that one APC supporter was killed in Tudun Wada despite the party obtaining permission to hold its event.
The APC Chairman described the attack on Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu during the Presidential campaign in Lafia, as embarrassing and unacceptable behaviour masterminded by the opposition.
“We came here to demand justice, that a full-scale investigation should be carried out and the perpetrators of this act should be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.
Bello alleged that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Governorship Candidate and the former Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Adamu and his wife had enjoyed more security backing than the sitting governor, who was a Chief Security Officer of the State and his wife.
Bello also alleged that a supporter of Adamu had incited violence by their utterances, recalling how the supporter of Adamu threatened that any police officer who comes to arrest them should be killed, yet still walking freely despite being taken to court and breaching his bail conditions.
He said that APC supporters were peaceful and orderly and would play by the rules of the game, but warned that they would no longer allow opposition to continue to attack them without security agencies discharging their constitutional duty of protecting lives and property.
“If we are pushed to the wall, we will have no option but to defend ourselves,” he said.
Responding, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration and Finance, Gaya Ahmed, assured the protesters of police neutrality.
“The IGP has made it clear that the police are neutral, and we will continue to maintain that neutrality,” Ahmed said.
He said all grievances properly channelled to the police would be investigated, and whoever was involved would be arrested and prosecuted.
“The Nasarawa State Police Command is not seeing anybody as above the law. We see all as the same; the complaints would be presented to the incoming Commissioner of Police,” he said.
Similarly, the Deputy Director, Administration of the DSS, said the Command had heard their grievances and would communicate them to the appropriate office for necessary action.
Addressing the protesters, Gov.
Abdullahi Sule, represented by his Deputy Governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, described the attack on Vice President Kashim Shettima as unfortunate, a disgrace to humanity, Nasarawa State and constituted authority.
“What happened on Wednesday was rather unfortunate; that citizens of the State can be associated with such kind of thuggery and misbehaviour by some of our youths is something that Nasarawa State is not known for,” Akabe said.
He said President Tinubu preaches peace every day because development could not thrive in instability, adding that Gov. Sule had since 2019 committed heavily to security, making Nasarawa State one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.
He said while security personnel did their best during the attack on the Vice President, their best was not good enough, as they had been adequately briefed and expected to prevent it.
“The responsibility of security men is to protect lives and property. If you cannot protect lives and property, then a lot needs to be answered,” he said.
Akabe disclosed that the State Emergency Security Council had already met, resolutions were also taken, and the Governor had taken action.
He noted that the former Commissioner of Police, Jauro Shettima, had been promoted to AIG and posted out of the state, while a new Commissioner was expected soon with a more positive and progressive agenda to ensure adequate protection for all.
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