The Nasarawa State Police Command has confirmed four people dead during the APC state assembly primaries and another five persons were also killed during a clash between farmers and herdsmen in the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Ugochukwu Theodore, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia on Wednesday that four people died during the primary election in Garaku, headquarters of Kokona Local Government Area.

He said that the incident occurred when supporters of two rival aspirants clashed during the APC house of assembly primary election.

According to him, a group of men in military uniform came to the scene and shot sporadically and in the process there were some casualties.

Theodore said the situation was brought under control by a team of policemen deployed to the scene, adding that the primaries continued thereafter.

He said the police had commenced investigations into the matter.

The police spokesman, however, advised politicians against the use of thugs during political activities.
He also urged parents to monitor the activities of their children to discourage them from being used as thugs by politicians.

Theodore said that five persons were killed in Ashige in Lafia Local Government Area during a clash between some herdsmen and farmers on Tuesday. According to him, the herdsmen attacked farmers in Ashige community who went to harvest their crops.

He said that no fewer than five people lost their lives while some were injured in the fracas.

He said the police sent a team to the area to comb the surrounding bush with a view to tracking the culprits. No arrest had been made.