The police in Zamfara State have confirmed that one man was shot dead, and 18 others sustained injuries during a clash between members of two youth groups.

The police said the groups were suspected to be members of  APC and PDP in the state.

The police spokesman in the state, Muhammad Shehu, confirmed that the command had received a report of the killing, adding that an investigation has commenced.

He, however, declined further comment on the incident.

Mr Shehu’s confirmation followed an allegation by the APC that thugs suspected to have been hired by the PDP attacked and killed one man and injured 18 others without reason.

The APC’s allegation is contained in a statement issued by Yusuf Idris, the publicity secretary in Gusau, on Saturday.

“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 the GRA area of Gusau, the Zamfara state capital.”

He said the victims were attacked because they were APC supporters.

Meanwhile, the state deputy governor, Hassan Nasiha, visited the attacked victims at a specialist hospital in Gusau to ascertain their condition.

Three victims with serious gunshot injuries were attended to at the specialist hospital.

He said it was the fear of such a breach of law and order that the Zamfara government announced a halt on campaign activities and rallies by political parties in the state.

The deputy governor, however, said that the state government would investigate the matter and resolve the following line of action.

Meanwhile, the PDP, in its response, said its governorship candidate, 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, Murkhtar Lugga, expressed concern at the activities of some criminal elements who allegedly attacked some PDP youths during the event.

On the issue of halting rallies as announced by the state government, Mr Lugga said PDP’s activity was within the ambit of the law and in line with the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.

He claimed that two of its youths were reportedly shot in front of the campaign office of PDP’s guber candidate in the state capital.

Mr Lugga, however, said the party would investigate the incident.

(NAN)