A mob of irate youths in Bida, Niger State, on Sunday, attacked the convoy of Governor Umar Bago, damaging several vehicles and injuring a senior government official after a failed cash distribution exercise.
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According to local sources, Governor Umar Bago had earlier assured residents of financial assistance ahead of the upcoming local government elections and instructed them to assemble on Friday to receive the funds.
However, the event reportedly descended into chaos when only a handful of people received the money, leaving many others frustrated and furious.
“The governor promised that everyone would receive money, but only a few people got anything. That’s when the youths started shouting and attacking,” a resident recounted.
The mob was said to have hurled stones and sachet water at the governor’s convoy, damaging at least six official vehicles. The incident occurred near the town hall in Bida.
Sources added that angry youths later vandalised campaign billboards of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and of the governor Umar Bago across the town.
“The people were very angry because they waited for him to fulfil his promise. When he didn’t, they lost control,” another eyewitness said.
Sunday’s unrest came just days after a stampede during a similar cash-sharing event in Bida, reportedly linked to the governor’s political outreach, which claimed the life of a young girl and left several others injured.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the latest incident as of press time.
