By Ndahi Marama

Maiduguri—No fewer than six people were feared dead, with 12 injured in Maiduguri, Borno State, yesterday, as hoodlums disrupted the presidential campaign rally of General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) of All Progressives Congress, APC.

At least, 12 persons were also injured in the attack that led to vandalizing of Channels TV equipment, Ramat Square rails and gates, and the campaign office of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The killings and vandalization of TV facilities and party campaign office took place at Bulunkutu ward and Kashim Ibrahim Way, in Maiduguri, between 11am and 1pm.

The scheduled commissioning of some projects by Buhari were suspended because of the rowdiness of the mammoth crowd of youths and women, including hoodlums, who participated in the fracas.

Trouble, it was learned, started when the three gates to Ramat Square, venue of the rally, were closed by security operatives as at 10am to control the massive crowd of people entering the square before Buhari’s arrival from the Shehu’s palace in Maiduguri.

Some party supporters had to climb the fence to gain entry to the square, despite the firing of gunshots by military men into the air to scare the surging crowd, who stormed the venue to welcome the APC presidential candidate.

Shocked by the mammoth crowd’s unruly behaviour, Buhari could not address the crowd and sensing trouble, APC members and supporters, and security personnel immediately whisked Buhari away from the podium and took him straight to Maiduguri International Airport, without him making any political statement to the people.