A group of angry youths in Bida, Niger State, on Sunday attacked the convoy of Governor Umar Bago, vandalising several vehicles and injuring a senior government official following a failed cash distribution exercise.
Sources told DAILY POST that the governor had earlier promised residents financial gifts ahead of the forthcoming local government elections, urging them to gather on Friday to receive the money.
However, the situation reportedly turned chaotic when only a few individuals benefited from the funds, leaving many others disappointed and enraged.
“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 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.
