Nuruddeen Usman, the Social Media Director of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Dukku Local Government Area of Gombe State, has escaped a machete attack while re-erecting campaign billboards belonging to the party’s governorship candidate, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.
Usman said the incident occurred while he and other youths were replacing four billboards belonging to Pantami and other PDP candidates, including Mai Nasaran Dukku and Dr. Ibrahim Hassan, which he alleged had been destroyed by youths suspected to be supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to Usman, the PDP team initially confronted the youths and their leader over the destruction. He said the leader apologised and assured them that such an incident would not happen again.
Usman said new billboards were subsequently brought and re-erected. However, he alleged that less than 30 minutes later, one of the youths returned and attacked him with a machete.
He said he raised his hand to protect his head when the attacker swung the weapon at him, sustaining injuries in the process. He added that he fell while attempting to escape after his jallabiya became caught, and that his phone was also damaged during the incident.
Community elders and youths reportedly intervened, restrained the alleged attacker and seized the weapon before the matter was reported to the police through Hon. Babangida Femen.
The police subsequently arrested the youth leader, according to Usman.
At the police station, the suspect reportedly admitted pursuing Usman with a knife but denied intending to cut him. He allegedly said the confrontation was connected to an earlier disagreement involving another PDP member, Abdulrahaman, whom he accused of insulting his parents.
Usman said he later forgave the suspect before the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), while stressing that the incident should not be repeated.
He called for an end to the destruction of campaign materials and urged political actors and their supporters to maintain peace as political activities intensify.
Tags
Politics