The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Sokoto State, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, escaped unhurt on Friday night after suspected gunmen reportedly opened fire on his convoy near the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport.
The incident was said to have occurred around 9 p.m. shortly after Dan’iya accompanied former Sokoto State Governor and Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to the airport.
According to reports, vehicles in the candidate’s convoy, including bulletproof sports utility vehicles, sustained damage during the shooting.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufae, said the police had received a report and would investigate the matter. He added that anyone found responsible would face the law.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, Dan’iya alleged that operatives of the Sokoto Marshal and the Sokoto State Community Guard blocked his convoy from passing through the airport area.
The statement claimed the personnel said they were acting on instructions from superiors not to allow ADC members into the state. It further alleged that efforts by members of the candidate’s security team to resolve the standoff failed before gunshots were fired, damaging vehicles in the convoy.
Dan’iya also alleged that two Department of State Services (DSS) operatives attached to his security detail were detained during the confrontation.
Describing the development as a threat to his safety and democratic participation, the ADC candidate said earlier observations of increased deployments of Sokoto Marshal and Community Guard personnel at entry points into the state had already raised concerns among his supporters.
“If security personnel can block a gubernatorial candidate, fire gunshots during a confrontation, damage his vehicle and detain officers assigned to his protection, then the people of Sokoto deserve urgent answers,” Dan’iya was quoted as saying.
The politician disclosed that he had formally reported the incident to the state Commissioner of Police and requested intervention.
He called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS and other security authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, identify those responsible and determine whether any unlawful directives were issued.
Dan’iya further demanded the release of the DSS operatives if they remained in custody and urged investigators to preserve video recordings, operational records and eyewitness accounts related to the incident.
The ADC candidate also appealed to the Federal Government, the National Assembly, human rights organisations and the international community to monitor the situation, warning that political intimidation could undermine the democratic process.
He urged his supporters to remain calm and avoid reprisals, insisting that neither intimidation nor violence would deter him or his party from pursuing their political activities lawfully.
As of the time of the report, the allegations had not been independently verified, while the Sokoto State Government, Sokoto Marshal and the Community Guard had yet to issue official responses on the claims. Police investigations are expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the reported attack, alleged detention of DSS personnel and damage to the candidate’s convoy.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com