Nigeria: 18 Suspects arrested over Razed Senator's house

Youths staged a violent demonstration in Gaya, the hometown of Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, leading to the vandalization and burning of his house.

According to eyewitness accounts, the rampaging youths started the demonstration at about 9am on Wednesday. As the protests intensified, the youths barricaded major strategic locations leading to the town, creating a heavy gridlock that prevented motorists and commuters from passing through the area.

SaharaReporters also learned on good authority that the campaign office and poultry farm belonging to the member representing Gaya Ajingi and Garko in the House of Representatives, Abdullahi Mahamud Gaya, were also set ablaze by the irate youths on the rampage.

Our correspondent gathered that the intervention of the police in the area temporarily eased tensions that had caused local influential figures to scamper for safety for fear of reprisal. 

The demonstrators, according to reports, had initially planned to stage a peaceful demonstration but were temporarily persuaded by elders in the town to shelf the idea. However, the youths ultimately decided to go ahead with the demonstration, which eventually turned violent.

A resident of the town told our correspondent that he was not surprised by the dismal turn of events in the area considering that political office holders neglected the community with impunity.

"One problem we are facing is the acute scarcity of drinking water. Our children have to trek to far distance of about five kilometers to fetch water. Our army of unemployed youths are still battling to survive. To me, the violent demonstration was not surprising."  

The public relations officer of the Kano State Police Command, Magaji Musa Majiya, told reporters that police in the area were making efforts to bring the restive situation under control and confirmed the arrest of 18 suspects believed to be involved in the riot.

Mr. Majia said that the youths attempted to burn the secretariat of Gaya Local Government Area (LGA).

He added that police have also identified 5 ringleaders of the attack and that the operatives have begun trailing them.

Source