Tension and grief swept through Kasuwan Ali community in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday after a man identified as Sani Abdullahi was reportedly shot dead during the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary election.

The tragic incident occurred amid chaos and protests that erupted over delays in the conduct of the primary election, throwing the community into panic as party members, residents, and security operatives clashed at the venue.

According to reports monitored by CEOAFRICA, the deceased was allegedly hit by a stray bullet fired by soldiers who had moved in to restore order following escalating unrest among aggrieved party supporters.

Eyewitness accounts revealed that the primary election, initially scheduled to hold on Saturday morning, failed to commence due to the absence of returning and electoral officers, a situation that sparked outrage among APC members and youths gathered at the venue.

A resident, Ibrahim Sale, who spoke with Daily Trust, said frustrations mounted when supporters began accusing party officials of deliberately delaying the process.

“The exercise was supposed to hold on Saturday morning, but it didn’t take place because of the absence of returning officers. So the youths started protesting, alleging that the delay was deliberate,” he explained.

According to him, the situation deteriorated further when government officials who had arrived to monitor the exercise attempted to leave the venue because the electoral officers were yet to arrive. However, protesting youths reportedly blocked the road, insisting that no one would leave until the primary election was conducted.

“The youths insisted they would not leave until electoral officers arrived to conduct the primary. This drew the attention of security personnel, who moved in to disperse them,” Sale said.

He added that the confrontation escalated after some protesters allegedly began throwing stones at the soldiers, prompting the security personnel to open fire.

“As soon as the security personnel arrived, the youths started throwing stones at them. The soldiers then started shooting, and a stray bullet hit the victim,” he stated.

The killing of Sani Abdullahi has since heightened tension in the area, with residents expressing shock and concern over the violent turn of events surrounding the APC primary exercise.