Not fewer than thirteen people have been arrested in Jos in connection with the burning down of Jonathan’s campaign buses on Saturday.
A police post was however set ablaze by some people protesting the arrests by the soldiers attached to the Special Task Force on security in Jos.
The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Nasiru Oki, told our correspondent in Jos that those arrested had yet to be handed over to the police.
The Governor, Jonah Jang, condemned the burning of the campaign buses, vowing that security agencies would apprehend more of those behind the incident
Jang, at a church service to mark the Armed Forces Remembrance and Emblem Appeal week, said, “Plateau is PDP and the people of the state would continue to support the party. The PDP shall form the next Federal Government; the, PDP will win the governorship election in Plateau State in 2015.”
The Acting Chairman of the PDP in the state, Mr. Raymond Dabo, said that despite the burning of the two campaign buses, President Goodluck Jonathan and the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Gyang Pwajok, would win the February elections.
Dabo described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the party had advised its supporters to remain calm and focused.
Also on Sunday, the Presidency said the burning of the vehicles had further demonstrated the level of desperation by the opposition and their plot to intimidate Nigerians out of the political space.
It added in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Alkali, that would not deter Jonathan from ensuring that free and fair elections were conducted nationwide next month.
The statement read in part, “We have observed a dangerous trend of politically- motivated violence unleashed on innocent Nigerians by supporters of those who have shown desperation to assume political power at all costs.
“While we are not surprised by acts of desperation already shown by these people who have no articulate agenda for nation building, we are amazed at how quickly they are willing to manifest their evil intentions on our dear country.
“The incidence in Jos, Plateau State where our campaign vehicles were torched by irate youth underscores the need for vigilance as we progress towards the General Elections. This criminal behaviour, which is meant to intimidate others and deny them their freedom of choice, stands condemned.
“The leaders whose utterances and conduct have encouraged this kind of behaviour must bear full responsibility for this. With the way things are going, it seems the ultimate agenda of making Nigeria ungovernable as prophesied by these politicians is underway.
“We declare unequivocally that no Nigerian citizen should be prevented from campaigning in any part of the country. We therefore call on the law enforcement Agencies to protect and guarantee the safety of every Nigerian legitimately canvassing for votes all over Nigeria.’’
