KADUNA: WOMAN ATTACKED FOR QUESTIONING LACK OF SUPPORT FOR GOVERNOR

A woman believed to be a supporter of Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has been reportedly assaulted and injured after she publicly criticised residents for failing to show support for the governor during President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to the state.

The incident has raised concerns about the safety of citizens expressing political opinions and the responsibility of security personnel to protect people from violence, ValidViewNetwork reports .

THE CRITICISM

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In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, the woman was seen speaking in Hausa and expressing disappointment that residents had not organised public displays of support for Governor Sani .

She questioned why Kaduna residents did not play songs in the governor’s honour, display his posters or turn out to celebrate him, as supporters of governors from other states reportedly do when their leaders visit.

“Honestly, the people of Kaduna are surprised, and this is not how things should be. It should not be that in the whole of Kaduna, nobody has come out to show support for their own governor. Nobody has come out to promote Governor Uba Sani in this city. Nobody has come out to demonstrate patriotism and show that they are proud to be citizens of Kaduna State,” she said .

She added: “Nobody has come out to play songs in support of Governor Uba Sani in this city, while we watch people from other states playing songs in praise of their own governors. This should not be so. It should not be so” .

THE ASSAULT

Shortly after the video circulated, a separate video showed the woman crying and bleeding from injuries to her forehead and nose after an alleged assault .

In the footage, she was seen lying on the ground with visible injuries.

Another video reportedly showed people helping her into a tricycle, while security operatives were seen at the scene .The woman was reportedly rescued by friends who were present during the incident .

Witnesses alleged that police officers at the scene watched as the attack unfolded but failed to intervene effectively or arrest those responsible .

However, the circumstances surrounding the reported assault, the identities of those allegedly involved and whether any arrests have been made were not established in the report .

WHY IT MATTERS

The assault on the Kaduna woman is a chilling reminder of the dangers faced by citizens who speak publicly about politics in Nigeria.

She was not a politician. She was not a candidate. She was a citizen expressing an opinion, one that was supportive of the governor, not critical of him.

And she was beaten for it.If the witnesses’ accounts are accurate, the police stood by while she was attacked. That is not law enforcement. It is complicity.

The Kaduna State Police Command has a duty to investigate this incident, identify those responsible, and ensure that they are held accountable. The woman deserves justice.

And Nigerians deserve to know that they can express their political views without fear of violence.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the police have not commented on the incident. The investigation has not been announced.