Tribune reporter, 4 others escape death in Zamfara election

Muhammed Sabiu, Gusau - 18.03.2008

Five journalists covering last Saturday’s local government elections in Zamfara State escaped death by the whiskers when aggrieved voters surrounded their vehicle at Gora village in Maradun Local Government Area with sticks and cutlasses.

The five reporters were Muhammed Sabiu of the Tribune; Isa Ibrahim of The Guardian; Imam Imam, of ThisDay; Attahiru Ahmed of The Sun; and Nuhu Anka of Zamfara Radio.

The reporters came to the village around 4:07 p.m. on the day of the election and met with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Maradun local government, Alhaji Yahaya Chado, to comment on the election.

When the journalists made for their vehicle, they were stopped by angry voters who thought they were officials of the State Independent Electoral Commission.

The angry voters started chanting, Allah Ya isar mana in Hausa (We leave everything to God), wielding their sticks and cutlasses.

They prevented the reporters from entering their vehicles and were becoming violent when some elders of the community intervened by telling the youths that the journalists were not government officials.

The five reporters were held hostage for about 10 minutes by the aggrieved voters who refused all entreaties to allow them to go until they were convinced that they were reporters.