One Feared Dead,Two Hospitalized in Kaduna as Pro-Jonathan Rally Turns Bloody

At least one person was said to have died in the violence which broke out in Kaduna on Saturday.The identity of the dead could not be immediately ascertained.But Newsdiaryonline.com was told that two other young men namely Abubakar Usman and one simply identified by his nickname as Muti were on admission at a military hospital in Kaduna metropolis.Muti was stabbed on his neck with a scissors.Another victim who was said to have had head injury was treated at what is known locally as a “chemist”.One other person who was sharing money allegedly lost his hand as he was attacked with a cutlass,an eye witness said.
Violence broke out a rally which most young men there thought was meant to be for uniting northern youths.Trouble started when the youth who went to the venue realised that they had been deceived .Hell was let loose when the organizers were making their speech and people realised that there was a change from the pro north to pro –Jonathan campaign.It became clear the rally was actually meant to campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan.
One eye witness said as soon as the youth realised they had been duped, they started protesting and violence ensued.Billboards,cars and other valuables were vandalised.One eye-witness alleged that a vehicle that was loaded with pro- Jonathan banners had to be hurriedly driven away as the attacks began.
As the violence broke the police had to shoot to disperse the crowd.It was not clear whether live ammunition was used but one source said at least tear gas was also fired to disperse the crowd.”It ended in a disaster,” a politician in Kaduna said.The politician that the organizers circulated invitations which said the rally was for northern unity and peace.It was when they started bring out Jonathan’s posters that crisis started,Newsdiaryonline was told.
Jiibril Tafida, the organizer of Kaduna the rally is ex vice chairman of a local government .He voted with his feat as violence broke out. It was not clear how much was released to bank roll the Kaduna rally .But Sources claimed the Kaduna rally may be one in a series with a budget of about N1.5billion. One television network was said to have been paid N12million to ensure live coverage of the ill -fated Kaduna rally.