Political thugs believed to be loyal to a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) On Saturday burnt down the secretariat of Ningi Local Government Council of Bauchi State.
An eye witness said that the political thugs stormed the secretariat at about 6 p.m. on Saturday and set it on fire aftermath of the ward congresses of the party held in the area.
He revealed that the arson may not be unconnected with the fact that the results of the congresses in some wards of the local government area did not go down well with a faction of the APC.
According to him, the political thugs stormed the secretariat chanting the name of a particular politician from the area who is believed not to be satisfied with the conduct and outcome of the ward congresses.
It was gathered that the candidates sponsored by the said politician lost in all the wards of the local government alleging that the exercise was not free and fair as people were denied the chance to freely choose their leaders.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Police Command, DSP Kamal Datti Abubakar, who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview said so far one suspect had been arrested by the Police in connection with the incidence assuring that efforts were ongoing to arrest all those who took part in the act.
Abubakar, however, said the Command cannot as at the time of filing this report confirm the sponsors of the act but said that it may not be unconnected with the conduct of the ward congresses held across the state.
He assured that the Command was ready to deal with any act of criminality pointing out that all those fingered in the arson will be apprehended and prosecuted according to the laws of the land immediately investigations were completed.
All efforts to get the state leadership of the APC to react to the incident failed as the phone of the state chairman was switched off.