The death toll in yesterday’s political upheaval in Wukari Local Council of Taraba State that have trailed Saturday’s ruling of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja that sacked Governor Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) Aisha Alhassan as winner of April 11, 2015 poll, has hit no less than 30. Initial reports, including by News Express, had put the death toll at only eight.

The upheavals, which were said to have commenced at about 1 a.m. yesterday left scores dead with many more injured.

Peace and tranquility in Wukari Council was said to have been disrupted immediately the news of the APC governorship candidate’s victory in the said governorship election filtered into the council.

Though heavily armed security personnel were deployed to the area to halt any form of uprising, aggrieved people defied whatever form of check the soldiers and policemen were expected to represent and went about attacking and killing perceived opponents from either side of the political divide.

Though the police are yet to come out with the actual numbers of casualties, sources from the area told The Guardian that “well over 30 persons have been killed.”

According to the sources, the Wukari General Hospital and some private clinics in the area have admitted no fewer than 50 casualties with varying degrees of injuries.

“Instead of celebrating the victory of their candidate peacefully, we were surprised that APC supporters went about attacking PDP supporters, destroying their property, killing and maiming them. I can tell you it would have been worse if PDP members had retaliated, but they behaved maturely,” one source said.

Confirming the report of violence and killings, the police commissioner through the Police Public Relations Officer said more anti-riot policemen have been deployed to the area.

Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Sylvanus Giwa, Governor Ishaku enjoined the people to remain calm as relevant security measures have been put in place to halt the crisis from escalating.

He also said the government would take all legal and constitutional measures to nullify the Tribunal’s ruling which he said cannot be justified and would remain a figment in the imagination of those behind it.

•Adapted from a Guardian report. Photo shows Aisha Alhassan and Darius Ishaku.

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