Some chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna state were abducted by bandits on Thursday night during an attack along Kachia – Kaduna road, while others escaped with gunshot injuries.
Blueprint learnt that the politicians were attacked at Tashar Icce near Kujama in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna state, on their way back to Kaduna from a political meeting with Christian leaders in Kafanchan, Southern Kaduna.
Though, the Kaduna state Police Command was yet to issue a statement on the attack, a source told Blueprint that some of the victims of the gunmen attack were receiving medical attention at an health facility in Kaduna.
According to the source, “the politicians were returning from a political meeting with Christian leaders in Kafanchan, Southern Kaduna. Among those abducted are the APC House of Assembly candidate from Kajuru identified as Hon. Madaki and the Vice Chairman of the party in Kajuru LGA, Hon. Reuben Waziri.”
A relative of the Vice Chairman, Ben Maigari, confirmed his abduction to journalists, saying that they were yet to be contacted by the bandits.
A party chieftain, who was part of the entourage, but craved anonymity said: “On our way back to Kaduna from Kafanchan where we just concluded a meeting between Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association and the gubernatorial candidates of the various parties, between Kajuru and Kujama we were attacked by bandits who shot at our vehicles but, to God’s glory we escaped.
“Though our three vehicles were damaged and we had to abandon them, some of the people in the other two vehicles were injured through gun shots and were taken to the hospital but nobody was hurt in the car I was in. On our entourage was the Director General, Uba Sani Campaign Organization, Prof Sani Bello (Mainan Zazau), Director of Organization, Engr Namadi, Special Adviser to the Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki, Personal Assistant to Senator Uba Sani, Engr. Jamilu, other aides and security operatives. We thank God for His mercies.”
During the political meeting in Kafanchan, no fewer than 3,000 clergy and Christian leaders from 11 local government areas that made up Southern Kaduna region met and interacted with the governorship candidates of the various political parties seeking to govern Kaduna state in 2023.
The meeting, which was tagged “Southern Kaduna Pastor’s Congress”, had five governorship candidates in attendance.
Only the candidates of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Isa Ashiru, and that of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) Sen. Caleb Zagi, sent apologies for their absence.
The candidates in attendance included those of All Progressives Congress, (APC), Sen. Uba Sani, Action Alliance, (AA), Mr. Timothy Adamu, New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Sen. Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Andrew Duya, and the candidate of Labour Party (LP), Jonathan Asake.
Chairman of the Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association, Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, in his opening address, said the aim of the gathering was to give the candidates the opportunity to speak with the Christian leaders directly about their blueprint and ask questions where clarifications were needed.
Kure explained that the move was expected to forestall the possibility of post-election crisis that may arise because of misrepresentation of facts.
He appealed to leaders of other faiths to also organise a similar engagement with the governorship candidates, to have their people sensitised, while pointing out that besides the meeting, the engagements will continue, with the hope of selecting three candidates out of all the contestants, who will be presented to Southern Kaduna Christians to pray and choose from.
All the candidates in attendance took turns to explain to the clergymen what they intend to do for the people of the region, and why they should be supported and entrusted with the leadership of Kaduna state in 2023, and they subsequently took time to answer questions raised.
