Borno State Welcomes General Buhari - Security struggling to control crowd

The main opposition party All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign train stops in the Borno State capital, Maiduguri.

The government of the state has declared Monday, February 16^th, as a public holiday to enable the people of the state welcome the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who arrives Maiduguri.

Crowd of supporters wait General Buhari in Maiduguri

Governor Kashim Shettima has enjoined all Borno residents to come out en mass and line up the streets to welcome the Peoples’ General.

Borno state welcomes General Buhari

Thousands of supporters overwhelmed security operatives manning some gates of the popular Ramat Square in Maiduguri to attend Buhari’s rally.

The residents of Borno State left no seats at the stadium.

The gates to the Square were therefore locked by heavily armed soldiers and policemen, who cited security reasons as basis for the closure.

The man in APC branded T-shirt.

According to Daily Trust, at about 11.30am, Buhari and his entourage were yet to arive the venue even as the huge crowd kept swelling around the vast arena, a development that forced security operatives to fire tear gas canisters to disperse the people.

General Buhari arrives in Maiduguri

Security forces are tirelessly struggling to control the crowd.

General Buhari lands in Borno state capital

Residents of Borno State welcome Buhari joyfully on Twitter.
Read what they said:
General Buhari with its presidential campaign has already visited 16 states across the country. Gombe, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa – each state welcomed APC candidate with a great enthusiasm.
President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday, January 24^th, also campaigned in Maiduguri amidst heavy security deployment by a combined force of soldiers, police and the operatives of the State Security Service.