A tragic incident occurred at the venue of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the House of Representatives in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, where a resident was allegedly shot dead. The victim, a resident of Kasuwan Ali community, was reportedly killed by soldiers after a disagreement over the commencement of the exercise, as reported by Daily Trust.
Eyewitness Accounts
Eyewitnesses at the scene told the publication that the victim was shot dead by soldiers following a heated disagreement regarding the start of the primary election. The exercise, which was initially scheduled for Saturday morning, faced delays due to the absence of returning officers.
Protest Erupts
Ibrahim Sale, a local resident who confirmed the incident, explained that the trouble began when some APC members protested the delay. According to Sale, the youths alleged that the delay was intentional, which led to a growing frustration among them.
As the protest escalated, government officials who had come to witness the exercise decided to leave due to the absence of electoral officers. However, some youths blocked the road to prevent the officials from departing. The youths insisted that they would not leave until the electoral officers arrived to conduct the primary.
Security Intervention
The situation drew the attention of security personnel, who moved in to disperse the crowd. Upon their arrival, the youths began throwing stones at the security forces. In response, the soldiers opened fire, and a stray bullet struck the victim, leading to his death.
This incident highlights the tensions surrounding the delayed primary election and the volatile atmosphere that can arise when political processes are disrupted. The community is now mourning the loss of the resident, and calls for justice are expected to follow.
