The Police Command in Gusau, Zamfara on Sunday confirmed the killing of one man and 18 others sustained injuries during a clash by members of two youth groups.
The Police said the groups were suspected to be members of APC and PDP in the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Muhammad Shehu, gave the confirmation in an SMS message to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau on Sunday.
Shehu, who confirmed that the command had received a report of the killing, said: “discreet investigation into the case has commenced aimed at ensuring that the perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.”
The PPRO, however, declined further comment on the incident.
The PPRO’s confirmation followed an allegation by the APC that thugs suspected to have been hired by the PDP attacked and killed one man and injured 18 others without reason.
The APC’s allegation is contained in a statement issued by Mr Yusuf Idris, Publicity Secretary in Gusau on Saturday.
Idris said that: “It is highly disheartening and worrisome the attack with firearms perpetrated by PDP thugs.
“The thugs came as the PDP Zamfara Governorship candidate’s boys and shot at innocent youths who were carrying out their monthly sanitation work in GRA area of Gusau, the Zamfara state capital.”
He said that victims were attacked because they were APC supporters.
“We are calling for calm by the good citizens of the state who were angered by the thugs.
“We wish to call on both the state government and security agents to urgently fish out the culprits and bring them to book to prevent reprisals,” he added.
