The Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has set up a committee to investigate the alleged attack on Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Maiduguri, Borno state capital on Wednesday.
The IGP disclosed this at the 57th ministerial briefing on Thursday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Atiku, his party claimed was attacked when his convoy was leaving the palace of Shehu of Borno after a political campaign in the state. Several people were said to have been injured during the attack while a slew of vehicles was also destroyed.
The police in the state had earlier dismissed the alleged attack after the PDP called for a thorough investigations into the matter. The opposition party blamed the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC for the attack on Atiku.
In his call for investigation, Kola Ologbondiyan, a spokesman for the Atiku Campaign Council his party “has information about how agents of certain APC leaders mobilised the thugs with the aim to escalate violence in Maiduguri and prevent the PDP from holding its Presidential Campaign Rally in the State.”
Reacting, Baba chided the state police command for reaching a hasty conclusion on the alleged attack. He said he will set up a team to investigate what actually transpired to prevent a future recurrence.
In his earlier response to the attack, the police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sani Shatambaya said it was contrived, adding that Atiku’s rally in the state went unhindered.
He said: “I want to use this opportunity to inform the general public that the mischievous reports from the social media that Atiku’s convoy were attacked was a fake news.
“It is worthy to note that one Danladi Musa, who attempted to attack the convoy of Atiku along the Airport road was arrested by the police with stones as exhibit.
“I want to urge members of the general public that the suspect is with us, and the Command is doing everything possible to arrest other suspects”.
