7 killed After PDP and APC Supporters Clash in Taraba State

 

At least seven people were killed Sunday in clashes between supporters of rival political parties in Nigeria’s north-eastern Taraba state after a court nullified the election win of the state governor, police said. The deadly clashes first erupted when supporters of Alhassan, a lawyer and minister-designate in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet to be inaugurated on Wednesday, began celebrating her win on Saturday.

 

‎The violence continued into Sunday and took on ethnic and religious tones, with Muslim supporters of Alassan and Christian supporters of Ishaku launching attacks against each other, residents said.‎ Shehu Mohammed, a Muslim community‎ leader, said six Muslims were killed and 30 injured, while a Christian leader, Zondo Hogu, said seven Christians died in the clashes and another nine were injured. Wukari, a religiously divided town has for years been a flashpoint of sectarian unrest, with tensions leading to occasional deadly flare-ups over non-religious matters.

 

“Seven people were killed and 15 injured in fighting between supporters of PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) and APC (All Progressives Congress) in Wukari following the election tribunal verdict overturning the governorship election in favour of the APC. Several homes and businesses were burnt in the violence which was brought under control by anti-riot policemen,” Taraba state police spokesman Joseph Kwaji said.

Residents in the town of Wukari, some 220 kilometres (140 miles) from the state capital Jalingo, gave a higher toll however of 13 dead and 39 injured.‎ In May 2013 around 40 people were killed in religious violence in Wukari between Muslim and Christian residents over a soccer dispute between Muslim and Christian teams in the town.