Fact-Check: Did Political Thugs Injure 74 PDP Supporters and Vandalize 100 vehicles in Maiduguri at Atiku’s Campaign Rally? 

Fact-Check: Did Political Thugs Injure 74 PDP Supporters and Vandalize 100 vehicles in Maiduguri at Atiku’s Campaign Rally? 

Claim: Using a 60-word post accompanying pictures of vandalized cars, one Mustapha Shehu Mustash claim that the convoy of the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, who went to Maiduguri for his campaign ahead of the 2023 election was attacked by APC supporters.

Full-Text: The post where the claim was made reads: “AS A LIVE WITNESS TO ZULUM SPONSORED THUGGERY IN MAIDUGURI.

“Some of the vehicles hit by missiles thrown at Atiku’s convoy today in Maiduguri by Zulum-sponsored APC thugs[sic].

“I snapped the picture myself and was in the convoy during the attack

“It’s sad and unfortunate that a professor will go this low.

“Anyway, it’s a sign of an impending defeat!”

Verification: Using Facebook Search Bar, PRNigeria discovered a video showing a large number of youths allegedly sponsored by APC attacked PDP supporters at Shehuri Area in Maiduguri.

Commenting, a Facebook user said, “When are we going to learn true democracy in this state for goodness sake?”

Another user said, “Very unfortunate in Shaa Allah they’re not going to succeed[sic].”

A keyword search conducted by PRNigeria revealed that the Vanguard, Daily Trust, and the DailyPost among other reputable media organizations reported that the convoy of PDP’s presidential candidate who went to Maiduguri for his campaign was attacked.

The Vanguard published, “At least 74 persons were hospitalized while over 100 vehicles were vandalized as hoodlums from different political parties clashed when Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar stormed Maiduguri for campaign rally[sic].”

An investigation by PRNigeria further discovered pictures and a video of victims who were taken to the hospital for treatment.

A resident of Maiduguri Mohammed Abatcha Kyari told PRNigeria that he saw vehicles carrying pictures of top APC members attacking PDP supporters.

“I saw them and I even heard one of them asking his colleagues to attack the PDP guys. I have no respect for them again because I never thought they are so low in political irresponsibility,” added.

However, the Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Police Command, ASP, Sani Shatambaya has debunked the claim that Atiku’s convoy was attacked in Borno.

Conclusion: facts gathered by PRNigeria show that Atiku’s convoy was attacked by youths identified to be supporters of APC in Maiduguri by eyewitnesses who spoke to PRNigeria and a few persons were injured as the exact number is not ascertained. However, there is NO SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE to prove that upto 74 PDP supporters were hospitalized and 100 cars were vandalized by the attackers.

By PRNigeria