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Buhari’s rally in Borno claims 6

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The campaign of the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu BUhari (retd.) in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, turned violent, leading to the death of at least six people, with many more being hospitalized for various degrees of injury.
Also, a number of buildings within the vicinity of the Ramat Square, venue of the rally were also touched, including the PDP Campaign office of ex-governor Ali Modu Sheriff, along Sir Kashim Ibrahim Way, Maiduguri, while some others were vandalized,
Our Correspondent who was in the entourage of governor Shettima reports that six people were killed during the uncoordinated visit, as the governor had since visited the victims at the hospital.
The rally was attended by Buhari, his running mate, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, Governor Kashim Shettima, state and national candidates of the APC, party stalwarts and thousands of APC supporters who thronged the streets early in the morning, while many others jumped over the fence into the venue of the rally amidst tight security.
Reports indicated that all four gates leading to the venue of the event were closed down by security operatives, but were broken down by some rampaging youths.
Trouble broke out due to an ensuring stampede, as five people, who were reportedly asthmatic patients lost their lives as they were trapped in the stampede, while the other allegedly died as a results of a stray bullet fired by security operatives, while trying to control the crowd that attempted to burnt down PDP offices in the state.
Many PDP campaign centres located at strategic positions in the city of Maiduguri were vandalized with posters and bill boards also destroyed by thugs suspected to have been hired by the APC.
Likewise, four people who claimed to be members of the Civilian JTF were shot at by security operatives while attempting to stop two trucks loaded with military arms and ammunitions that were entering the town.
Sources and residents said, the trucks were intercepted around Umar Shehu General Hospital in Bulumkutu area of the metropolis and when the security men attached to the trucks insisted that the arms and ammunitions belonged to military operatives, the youths refused to buy their explanations, a situation that led to a disagreement which resulted to shooting of the four youths.
It was also gathered that one of the youths that were shot died before reaching hospital.
At the venue of the rally, sporadic gunshots, including a sustained firing by the Military Armoured Personnel Carrier and tear gas engulfed the area in an attempt to control the crowd.
General Buhari who stormed the venue of the rally at 1:30pm could not address the uncontrollable crowd, who started vandalizing television cables, and stealing cameras which led to the instant cut off of the live coverage of the event.
It was observed that General Buhari had to be sneaked out of the venue to Government House, Maiduguri where he was expected to have an indoor meeting with some Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) officials.

-Ripples

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