The swearing-in ceremony of the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, turned bloody on Friday, as angry youths at the venue attacked the revered Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris.
Several people were injured when the youth, midway into El-Rufai’s speech, started pelting the emir, who sat at the VIP stand, with stones and shoes.
Not even the heavy presence of security operatives could calm down the situation, as the youth intensified the attack on the emir, thereby forcing the event that started peacefully to an abrupt end.
Ting Of Human Wall
The youths, who were said to be angry with the presence of the emir at the inauguration of the new Governor, alleged that he openly supported the former Governor, Mukhtar Yero, during the campaigns, instead of maintaining neutrality as a royal father.
As the stones were flying directly at the Emir, a ring of human wall was quickly formed around him by his Body Guards and security operatives before they eventually took him away through the back of the podium.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ulnar Shehu told Channels Television that the emir was not stoned.
On his part, the new governor in his speech, which was read half way because of the crisis, thanked the people of the State for giving him the mandate.