A team of soldiers serving in Talasse town in Balanga local government of Gombe state, helped free the senator representing Gombe south, who was held hostage by protesters.
The senator, Joshua Lidani, was forced to take refuge in the residence of the traditional ruler of Talasse after irate youth from the area accosted him.
One witness said they sought to “ask him some questions”.
One of the protesters, who identified himself as a youth leader, claimed that after the protesters forced the police to retreat to a distance to avoid confrontation, soldiers were called.
“Even the soldiers were at first confronted by the protesters when they arrived and sought to free the Senator,” he said.
He also said sensing danger, the soldiers began to fire indiscriminately into the air forcing the protesters to disperse in different directions.
The youth leader said Mr. Lidani’s car “is still parked where he left it, and I don’t know how he intends to pick it later, unless if he has given it to the emir”.
A live Facebook update by an activist, Ibrahim Wala, on Monday, had revealed that Mr. Lidani was held hostage will on an unscheduled visit to Talasse town, the headquarters of Balanga Local Government Area to meet with political associates.
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