The Police Command in Gusau, Zamfara State, on Sunday, confirmed the report that a man was killed and 18 others sustained injuries during suspected clash between APC and PDP youth groups.

According to the Police, the groups were suspected to be members of APC and PDP in the state.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Muhammad Shehu, gave this confirmation in Gusau on Sunday.

Shehu said “the command has received a report of the killing,” adding, that: “discreet investigation into the case has commenced aimed at ensuring that the perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.”

The PPRO’s confirmation followed an allegation by the APC as contained in a statement by Mr Yusuf Idris, APC Publicity Secretary in Gusau on Saturday that thugs suspected to have been hired by the PDP attacked and killed one man and injured 18 others without reason. The statement added that the victim was killed because he supports APC.

Idris said: “It is highly disheartening and worrisome the attack with firearms perpetrated by PDP thugs.

“The thugs came as the PDP Zamfara Governorship candidate’s boys and shot at innocent youths who were carrying out their monthly sanitation work in GRA area of Gusau, the Zamfara State capital…

“The victims were attacked because they were APC supporters.

“We are calling for calm by the good citizens of the state who were angered by the thugs.

“We wish to call on both the state government and security agents to urgently fish out the culprits and bring them to book to prevent reprisals,” he added.

The deputy governor of the state reportedly reacted by saying the state government would investigate the matter and resolve on next line of action.

He assured of government’s resolve to punish whoever was found involved in the attack.

The PDP, in its response, said its governorship candidate, Dr Dauda Lawal-Dare, only had a small meeting to receive defectors from the 14 local government areas of the state.

The party’s Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Murkhtar Lugga, said shortly after the event, the party received 50 defectors from each of the 14 local government areas.

Lugga expressed concern at the activities of some criminal elements who allegedly attacked some PDP youths during the event.

He said two of its youths were also reportedly shot in front of the Campaign Office of Dr Dauda Lawal Dare in the state capital.

The PDP officials conducted newsmen round the emergency unit of the Specialist Hospital where two victims with fractured legs and other wounds were also receiving medical attention.

Lugga, however, said that the party would investigate the alleged killing of an APC youth and injuring of 18 others and take appropriate action.