Casualty recorded as Army truck plows through protesters
From Leo Zuanke, Nassarawa
Nasarawa has erupted in protest over the the decision of the Court of Appeal to uphold the election of Abdulahi Sule as the winner of March 18 governorship election in the state. Recall that the Election Tribunal had earlier vioded his election amd declared the PDP camdidate, David Ombugadu as winner of the elections.
The protests which was organized by a group under the aegis of “Coalition of Indigenous People of Nasarawa State” was peaceful until some security men tried to forcefully disperse the protesters, when an army vehicle, carrying armed soldiers, forcefully ran through a group of protesters, injuring several individuals.
The protest over the decision of the Appeal Court by angry indigenes began at the city gate to Lafia around 11:30 am on Tuesday morning. As the protest moved towards the Stadium Junction, a few kilometers from the PDP Secretariat, an army vehicle plowed through the crowd injuring many.
Keffas Tigga, the convener of the protest movement, expressed dismay over the military’s actions, highlighting that three elderly women sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital, while others appeared visibly shaken.
As emotions ran high, Tigga decried the situation, stating, “What kind of country is this? Nasarawa belongs to all of us, and we must protect this mandate. Our mothers, children, and widows are here, and the military will just appear and run through them.”
Asserting their unwavering resolve, James Alu, the group’s leader, proclaimed they were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their cause, vowing to continue the protest until justice prevailed, even if it meant risking their lives.
In a solemn tone, Gambo Baba a widow among the protesters, lamented the treatment they faced, stating, “They are beating us like kids, and we will not relent. We know who we voted for; it is David Ombugadu, and we want him to be returned back.”
Another protester, Juliana Abimuku a farmer, shared her story of hardship, underscoring Ombugadu’s significance to their lives: “I am a farmer, my children are farmers now, my husband is late, and no one cares about us but Ombugadu is the one that is caring for us now.”
The distressed protesters called on influential figures both locally and globally to intervene.
The scene remains tense in Nasarawa as protesters continue their fervent call for justice, undeterred by the violent encounter with the military vowing to continue with the protest, pleading for electoral justice and protection of democratic their rights.
