By Ogbodo Ndidi
BAUCHI, Nigeria
Violence erupted in Nigeria's northeastern Bauchi state on Thursday following the disruption of a rally attended by President Goodluck Jonathan and top officials of his administration by angry youths believed to be supporters of the opposition.
The youths chanted anti-Jonathan slogans, destroyed billboards of the his People's Democratic Party (PDP), disrupted proceedings at the rally, damaged vehicles belonging the president's campaign team and stoned his convoy as he went through town, an Anadolu Agency correspondent reported.
Eyewitness Isa Garuba told AA that the youths were attacking all people coming from the rally held at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) Square.
"As I came out from IBB's Square, I saw youths carrying knives and all forms of dangerous weapons and burning tires. As I tried to make a U-turn, they blocked my car and started hitting it," Garuba said.
"I came out from the car in an attempt to escape when security agents started shooting. One of the soldiers even pointed his gun at me as I lay down flat begging him not to shoot that I am not one of them.
"I thank Allah for saving my life because I saw some people injured with blood all over their body and I believe there must be serious casualties because of what I saw today. I have never experienced such thing in my life, I nearly escaped death."
The violence erupted after a section of the crowd at the rally started throwing stones, sachets of water and other objects into the pavilion where dignitaries were standing to address the audience.
The president's convoy was reportedly stoned at Nasarawa area of the state capital as he made his way to the palace of the traditional ruler of Bauchi, Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu.
The president’s billboards and posters were also pulled off across Bauchi a few hours to his arrival, the AA reporter said.
At the IBB Square where the event was held, some youths repeatedly interrupted the speeches of the dignitaries, chanting 'change' - a slogan used by the supporters of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) party.
Yet, it cannot be verified if the youths have any link with the opposition party which condemned the attack.
"We reject violence in its entirety. We have not sent anyone to attack our opponents and we urge the security agencies to do their work by apprehending the culprits and make them face the law," APC spokesman Lai Muhammed told AA.
The APC had also condemned a previous attack on the president's campaign train in Katsina, the home state of its candidate Muhammadu Buhari.
The country's political atmosphere is highly charged ahead of the Feb. 14 general elections where Jonathan would face Buhari and 12 other candidates.
The Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide (IYC), a group comprised of Jonathan's kinsmen, has vowed to retaliate the attack on the president's convoy allegedly by Buhari supporters in Katsina.
"We express our disappointment in Buhari for instigating his supporters to attack President Jonathan’s convoy in his home state of Katsina. Buhari has clearly…demonstrated his violent nature," IYC spokesman Eric Omare said in a statement.
"It will be recalled that when Buhari came to the South-South to campaign, especially in Bayelsa State (Jonathan's home state), Jonathan specifically instructed that everything should be done to ensure that Buhari’s campaign was not disrupted in any way in the zone," he added.
"Hence, the IYC made several radio announcements and set up a team at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, to ensure that the campaign was trouble-free.
"Now that Buhari’s supporters with his knowledge have decided to carry out consistent attacks on President Jonathan and his supporters, we wish to state clearly that we shall retaliate."
