Police confirm burning of Gombe PDP campaign billboards
Gombe State Commissioner of Police Oqua Etim, has confirmed attack which led to the burning of bill boards at the campaign office of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), gubernatorial candidate Jibrin Barde.
The office is situated opposite the presidential lodge Gombe, However, it has become a subject of litigation following it proximity to government house.
Etim, confirmed this in a telephone chat with our Correspondent, adding that “we are aware and investigation is ongoing.”
The Commissioner of Police disclosed that it was too early to determine who and how the campaign items used to demarcate the compound was burnt.
“It is too early to ask questions about an incident that happened this night. So, just give me a little time we are not magicians. Soon we will conclude investigation and we will determine the cause of the burning,”Etim added.
Earlier, Barde’s campaign organisation in a statement obtained by our Correspondent indicted All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that the incident was perpetrated by political thugs.
The organisation claimed that it gubernatorial candidate, Barde, had overtime kicked against political violence, stressing that when elected he would ensure protection of lives and property, if elected in 2023.
The statement partly read, “There was an attack on the building housing the Barde Campaign Organisation in the early hours of today by political thugs, suspected to be that of the sinking APC, setting ablaze the building and destroying properties.
“The cowardly attack on this edifice, one of many in the last months further affirmed the present governments stand on violence and destruction, a threat to the fragile peace of the state, which must vehemently be rejected by all and sundry.
“The PDP Governorship candidate, Alh Muhammad Jibrin Barde has on different occasions rejected violence and political thuggery, stressing the need to engage the resourceful Gombe youth in a meaningful pursuit.”
Reacting, Director General Press Affairs Ismaila Misilli, noted that government has no hand in the burning of the billboards of the opposition.
Misilli disclosed that the attack may have been carried out by PDP to get public sympathy following their loss of bigwigs during the flag off of Governor Muhammadu Yahaya’s campaign.
He said, “What was burnt are bill boards the campaign office was not tampered with. However, it may have been perpetrated by them to draw cheap popularity following the defeat they suffered during the weekend where they lost thousands of their members as well as their chieftains.”
