Thugs Attack El Rufai Meeting In Kaduna Police Launch Probe

A meeting convened in Kaduna on Sunday by a coalition of opposition parties was thrown into chaos after armed thugs stormed the venue, attacking participants and destroying property.

The gathering, meant to inaugurate a transition committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and allied parties, brought together members of an All Progressives Congress faction opposed to the state leadership alongside the PDP, SDP, NNPP, Labour Party, and ADC.

Eyewitnesses said the violence broke out when hoodlums armed with cutlasses, clubs, and stones invaded the venue. Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who was present, described the incident as a dangerous slide into lawlessness, accusing senior police officers at the scene of standing by as the attack unfolded.

“If the authorities don’t end the introduction of thuggery into Kaduna politics, God help us. Nobody has a monopoly on violence. We will take decisive steps to ensure this does not repeat itself,” El-Rufai said, vowing to escalate the matter to the Police Service Commission.

ADC National Vice Chairman (North-West), Jafaru Sani, also condemned the incident, insisting the coalition would not be intimidated into abandoning its political activities.

However, the Kaduna State Police Command said the organisers failed to notify security agencies before the event, despite repeated warnings. In a statement by spokesman DSP Mansir Hassan, the police said preliminary findings suggest thugs linked to El-Rufai’s camp allegedly fired gunshots during the clash, escalating the violence.

The command added that an investigation had begun into the incident and assured residents of its commitment to safeguarding public peace.