Tension and fear have engulfed Mai Gwado community in Jushi Ward, Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, after violence erupted during the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Kaduna State House of Assembly seat, leaving one person dead and at least five others injured.
The violent clash reportedly broke out shortly after the conclusion of vote counting in Jushi, when suspected political thugs allegedly stormed the area, attacking residents and disrupting activities across the community.
Eyewitnesses and residents accused some politicians of sponsoring armed youths to unleash chaos following disagreements linked to the outcome of the primary election, which was contested between Nasir Idi Kano and Bashir Ishaq Zango.
According to residents, the situation quickly escalated as hoodlums allegedly moved through the community armed with machetes and other dangerous weapons, attacking people indiscriminately and destroying properties in the process.
Several shops, vehicles, and tricycles popularly known as Keke NAPEP were vandalised during the unrest, while terrified residents fled for safety as gunshots echoed across the area.
A local shop owner narrated how attackers invaded his shop amid the chaos and carted away ₦70,000 cash.
“They stormed my shop during the confusion and took away my money. Nobody could stop them because everybody was running for their lives,” he lamented.
Witnesses said the attackers chased some victims into their homes, forcing women, children, and elderly residents to run for cover as the violence intensified.
Sources within the community disclosed that gunshots were fired during the disturbance, leading to the death of a young man identified as Ameer Yusuf, while at least five others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Residents maintained that most of the victims were innocent civilians who had no direct involvement in the political contest or election process.
The deceased was later buried according to Islamic rites.
The incident has also triggered fresh allegations against security operatives, as some residents accused personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and KADVIS of allegedly supporting the attackers during the violence.
According to eyewitness accounts, some security operatives were allegedly seen alongside suspected hoodlums during the attacks, while others reportedly fired shots indiscriminately in the community.
The father of the deceased, speaking in grief, insisted that his son had no political affiliation and was not participating in the election.
“My son was neither participating in the election nor involved in politics. He only stepped out to go to a shop when he was shot by security operatives,” he said emotionally.
A brother of the deceased also alleged that the victim was shot while they were trying to avoid the disturbance on their way to work.
“As we were walking, we suddenly saw people running. A man dressed in white clothing, not in police uniform, fired the shot. He was with some vigilantes. After shooting, he handed the gun to one of them and disappeared into the crowd,” he alleged.
Other residents further accused security personnel of standing by while hoodlums attacked residents and destroyed properties, alleging that security operatives also fired indiscriminately while attempting to disperse the crowd.
Mai Gwado community, long regarded as one of the peaceful communities in Sabon Gari Local Government Area, has since been thrown into mourning, fear, and tension following the deadly political violence.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities were yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident, while residents continue to demand justice for the victims and accountability for those responsible for the bloodshed.