BREAKING: Tension In Katsina As Residents Flee Over Planned Arrests Of Youths Who Stoned APC Convoy
Residents of Yankara community in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State have reportedly begun fleeing their homes following warnings that security operatives were planning to arrest youths suspected of attacking an All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign convoy.
The development comes days after angry youths reportedly pelted vehicles conveying APC supporters with stones during a campaign-related movement in the community on Saturday.
Some residents who spoke on Monday alleged that Governor Dikko Umaru Radda had ordered security operatives, including personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), to identify and arrest those involved in the attack.
According to the residents, several telephone calls had been made to warn suspected participants that arrests could begin at any moment.
The warnings have reportedly triggered panic, forcing some youths and other residents who fear being implicated to leave the community.
One of the residents said the viral video of the incident had attracted the attention of the state government, creating fears among those who participated in the attack.
“Many people have started calling us to leave the house because the video went viral and reached the Katsina government. It is true we stoned those vehicles, but we are not sure if those stones hit anybody inside. But what we heard was that we injured a lot of people,” the resident said.
The resident further alleged that APC loyalists had started searching for some of the youths following the incident.
“Immediately after the incident, our parents scolded us. They said even if we do not want to vote for APC, there was no reason to stone them. Now, we cannot stay at home again because even on Sunday, APC loyalists started looking for us and they said Governor Radda had ordered the DSS to arrest us for injuring APC campaign team. As I am speaking to you, I have left the town,” he added.
A video obtained by Ibom Focus showed vehicles in the APC campaign convoy attempting to navigate through an angry crowd as stones were thrown at them.
The campaign team reportedly claimed that some of its members sustained injuries during the attack.
The incident comes amid growing public dissatisfaction with the administration of President Bola Tinubu and rising political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It also comes days after another attack on an APC supporters’ convoy along the Yashi–Funtua road in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Ibom Focus had reported last Thursday that the police arrested 14 suspects in connection with the attack, which occurred last Wednesday as APC supporters travelled to Funtua for a campaign flag-off.
According to the Katsina State Police Command, suspected political thugs armed with knives and stones attacked the convoy and passing commercial vehicles, damaging several vehicles and injuring a female motorist.
The police said officers deployed along the route responded to the attack, restored order and arrested 14 suspects, while efforts continued to apprehend others who escaped.
The suspects were identified as Sagir Musa Maikudi, 35; Abubakar Aliyu, 21; Fahat Aminu, 25; Mubarak Kabir, 27; Shamsu Aliyu, 29; Buhari Adamu, 20; Imrana Dalha, 20; Suleiman Sani, 20; Ismail Nasir, 22; Abdulganiyu Babangida, 23; Hassan Gambo, 17; Abbas Tukur, 22; Gaddafi Sani, 25; and Abdulkadir Muktar, 18.
In a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, the police said adequate security arrangements had been made ahead of the campaign event.
However, suspected political thugs allegedly attacked the convoy and other motorists along the road.
The Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar Fage, condemned the violence and warned that the command would not tolerate political thuggery or any action capable of disrupting public peace before, during or after the electioneering period.
