No fewer than two journalists have been arrested in Gombe State following the planned demolition of the campaign office of Gombe governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Muhammad Barde.
The journalists, namely; Chika Udenkwo of Africa Independent Television, and Joseph Atabo, while attempting to film the charged location adjacent to the presidential lodge.
Our correspondent reports that Udenkwo was beaten by irate youths suspected to be ‘Kalare’ thugs before his identity was disclosed by some of his colleagues at the scene.
The Kalare thugs were sighted brandishing dangerous weapons around Liberty Junction, while heavily armed Special Weapon Armed Tactics officers seen cordoning off the two areas from the Government House and into the Government Reserved Area.
Earlier, officials of the Gombe State Urban Planning and Development Authority had invited journalists for a briefing at about 10:30 am, the same time set for them to embark on the demolition of some structures within the Gombe metropolis especially that of Barde, which had become subject of litigation.
However, the officials on the demolition exercise were repelled by another set of police team, allegedly six Special Protection Unit provided by the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, upon request of the PDP candidate.
When contacted about the arrest of journalists, the Commissioner of Police, Ishola Babaita, said he was aware, adding that he would revert shortly.
As of the time of filing this report, men of the GOSUPDA were yet to succeed with the demolition as the SPU officials guarding Barde’s property allegedly threatened to shoot at them if they proceeded, following the tear gas fired by the SWAT officers.
Speaking, a resident, Abdullahi Hussaini, warned politicians to tow the path of peace, stressing that violence would not augur well for anyone.
He said, “Politicians should come to the table and understand where the gap is coming from. Politics is not a do or die affair. I want to call on youths to stay off political thuggery and allow peace reign they should be engaged where necessary.”
