A wave of electoral violence has reportedly rocked Wakama Ward, where the Director-General of the APC campaign organisation and 12 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were allegedly attacked by suspected ethnic militia believed to be loyal to Labour Party candidate, Labaran Maku.
Sources from the area disclosed that the attackers, armed with machetes and axes, inflicted serious injuries on several victims during the assault. Many of those attacked sustained varying degrees of injuries, while two victims are currently receiving treatment in hospital for severe wounds.
One of the victims, Ezekiel Baba, was initially declared missing in the aftermath of the attack, raising fears about his safety. However, following a swift response by personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), he was rescued and taken to hospital for medical attention.
Sources further alleged that operatives of the NSCDC apprehended one of the suspected attackers, identified as Peter Assi, a former Councillor of Wakama Ward and a known political associate of Labour Party candidate, Labaran Maku. Security authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the arrest and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The incident has heightened tensions in the area and raised serious concerns about voter safety and the conduct of the ongoing Nasarawa North Senatorial Bye-Election. Residents and political stakeholders have called on security agencies to swiftly investigate the attack, bring the perpetrators to justice, and ensure adequate security for voters and election officials.
The APC has strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a dangerous act of political violence capable of undermining the credibility of the electoral process.
Security authorities are yet to issue a comprehensive official statement on the incident, while efforts to obtain a response from the Labour Party candidate and other relevant stakeholders were ongoing at the time of filing this report.