The Nasarawa State Government has demanded a thorough security probe into a disturbance caused by a group of youths during Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s visit to the Emir of Lafia, HRH Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I (rtd).
State officials pointed accusing fingers at prominent figures most notably former Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura and former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar Adamu alleging their potential links to the youths involved.
These assertions were made in an official statement released in Lafia by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Labaran Magaji.
Vice-President Shettima was visiting the state to stand in for President Bola Tinubu at an All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign for the 2027 elections.
As part of established protocol and respect for traditional leadership, Shettima paid a courtesy call to the palace of the Emir of Lafia, who serves as the Chairman of the Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs when the ugly incident occurred.
The state government has however expressed deep regret over the reckless conduct of the youths.
Magaji emphasised that the disturbance appeared designed to tarnish the reputation of both the state administration and its residents.
He described the behaviour as a deliberate display of disrespect toward established authority and the office of the Vice-President, calling it entirely unacceptable and deserving of strong condemnation.
Consequently, the administration has called on law enforcement agencies to launch a prompt, comprehensive investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the act, identify those involved, and unmask their alleged sponsors, urging that all culprits be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Also reacting, the Personal Assistant on Social Media to Governor Abdullahi Sule, Emmanuel Innocent Akwe, denounced a separate attack directed at the governor during the rally at Lafia Square.
Akwe alleged that disgruntled party members threw objects resembling stones at Governor Sule, placing the blame on supporters loyal to former Governor Al-Makura.
According to Akwe, the hostility erupted after Al-Makura was prevented from joining Vice-President Shettima on stage to deliver an address on behalf of the President.
He explained that the APC in Nasarawa State is a collective entity rather than the property of a single individual, stressing that no leader outweighs the party structure or the sitting governor.
According to him, Governor Sule has consistently exercised restraint to maintain party cohesion.
Speaking anonymously, a supporter of President Tinubu sees the disturbances as a calculated effort to humiliate Governor Sule, attributing the hostility to lingering grievances from the recent APC gubernatorial primary.
The supporter claimed the disruption was a retaliatory move against Sule for publicly backing Ahmed Aliyu Wadada during the internal party contest.
The source added that targeting the Vice-President and his delegation was tantamount to disrespecting President Tinubu himself.
Expressing grave concern, the supporter noted that Nasarawa State had never experienced such heightened political hostility during an election cycle throughout its 30-year history, warning that the escalating tension risks endangering lives and undermining the presidency during official state events.
Despite the friction, the Nasarawa State Government has advised members of the public to stay calm and proceed with their routine activities peacefully.
At the time of reporting, neither former Governor Al-Makura nor former IGP Adamu had issued public statements regarding the allegations, and security agencies had not yet published any preliminary findings.
