Five journalists and three policemen were reportedly attacked by suspected thugs in Kano State on Saturday, shortly after covering an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally.
The incident occurred behind the City Campus of North West University, Kofar Nassarawa, as the journalists were returning to their office after the programme.
The suspected attackers reportedly smashed the windows of a Radio Nigeria vehicle conveying the journalists and damaged the rear glass of the bus.
One of the journalists with Radio Nigeria’s Pyramid FM in Kano, Yakubu Abubakar Gwagwarwa, confirmed the incident, saying the attackers were armed with machetes and knives.
According to Gwagwarwa, the vehicle was carrying four staff members of Radio Nigeria Pyramid FM, a journalist from Guarantee Radio and three policemen who had been given a lift from the stadium.
He said the presence of the security personnel inside the vehicle did not deter the attackers, who repeatedly struck the vehicle and smashed its windows.
“In the vehicle were four staff of Radio Nigeria Pyramid FM, a journalist with Guarantee Radio and three policemen we gave a lift from the stadium.
“But even the presence of security personnel inside the vehicle did not prevent the attackers from carrying out the assault.
“They continued to hit the vehicle despite the presence of security personnel and journalists inside. We had to quickly turn back, but they still followed us,” Daily Trust quoted Gwagwarwa as saying.
Gwagwarwa said the driver sustained injuries during the attack, while some of the journalists were hit by broken glass from the damaged vehicle.
However, he said he did not believe the journalists were specifically targeted, describing the incident as more of a random attack.
He added that other people could also have been attacked by the suspected thugs.
The attack occurred after the APC held the Tinubu Support Group rally at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, where the party also received several political chieftains into its fold.
As of the time of filing the report, the Kano State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident.
