2 Reporters Arrested as SWAT, SPU Officials Clash Over Demolition of PDP Campaign Office

The journalists, Chika Udenkwo of AIT, and Joseph Atabo of Blueprint Newspaper, while attempting to film the demolition, were arrested and taken away by the police.

Daily Sun reports that Udenkwo was beaten by irate youths suspected to be Kalare thugs before his identity was disclosed by some of his colleagues at the scene opposite the presidential lodge in Gombe metropolis.

The Kalare thugs were sighted brandishing dangerous weapons around liberty junction, while heavily armed Special Weapon Armed Tactics (SWAT) officers were seen cordoning off the two axis points from the Government House and into the Government Reserved Area (GRA).

Earlier officials of Gombe State Urban Planning and Development Authority (GOSUPDA), had invited journalists for a briefing at about 10:30 am the same time set for them to embark on the demolition of some structures including that of Barde, which had become subject of litigation.

However, the officials on the demolition exercise were repelled by another set of police teams allegedly six Special Protection Unit (SPU) provided by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Baba upon request of the PDP candidate.

When contacted about the arrest of Journalists Commissioner of Police Ishola Babaita, said he was aware, adding that he would revert shortly.

At the time of filing this report men of GOSUPDA, were yet to succeed with the demolition as the SPU officials guarding Barde’s property allegedly threatened to shoot at them if they proceeded, following the tear gas fired by the SWAT officers.

Speaking, a resident Abdullahi Hussaini, warned politicians to toll the path of peace, stressing that violence would not augur well for anyone.

He said, “Politicians should come to the table and understand where the gap is coming from. Politics is not a do-or-die affair. I want to call on youths to stay off political thuggery and allow peace reign they should be engaged where necessary.”