President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday narrowly escaped death when bandits attack his convoy on his way to his hometown Daura in Katsina for the Sallah holiday.
Although a statement by the president’s media aide, Garba Shehu said it was the president’s advance convoy that was affected in the attack, the attack was apparently targeted at the president as few persons reportedly lost their lives while others were sustained injuries.
The presidency has since described the dastardly act as a sad and unwelcome development.
Mallam Shehu disclosed that a few people died, while the two persons, who sustained injuries during the attack were already receiving treatment.
According to him, other personnel, staff and vehicles made it safely to Daura.
The statement titled “Gallant Presidential Guards Repel Attack on Advance Team Ahead of President’s Visit”, stated that the shooting incident happened near Dutsinma, Katsina State.
“The attackers opened fire on the convoy from ambush positions but were repelled by the military, police and DSS personnel accompanying the convoy.
“Two persons in the convoy are receiving treatment for the minor injuries they suffered and few personnel, who lost their lives have been deposited at the hospital. All the other personnel, staff and vehicles made it safely to Daura,” the statement stated.
In a related development yesterday, bandits ambushed and killed an Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP, Aminu Umar Dayi, in charge of Dutsinma Area Command in Katsina, following a fierce gun duel.
He was killed in Katsina after he reportedly led a police team to Kurfi, where they killed one of the bandits’ commanders.
Enraged by the death of their commander, the bandits were said to have turned out en-masse and laid an ambush in order to avenge for the killing of one of them.
The late Dutsinma Area Commander, while leading his team on their usual clearance operation of the terrorists, were ambushed and killed during an exchange of gun fire.
Spokesperson for the Katsina Force Command, SP Gambo Isah, who confirmed the development, said the late ACP had led the war against bandits on several occasions leading to the killings and arrest of many of the hoodlums.
He said; “Today 06/07/2022 at about 1130hrs, a distress call was received that terrorists numbering over 300, on motorcycles, shooting sporadically with AK 47 rifles and General-Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), ambushed ACP Aminu Umar, Area Commander, Dutsinma and team, while on clearance operation of recalcitrant bandits/terrorists, in Zakka forest, Safana LGA of Katsina state. Consequently, the Area Commander and one other gallantly lost their lives during a cross exchange of gun fire.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Idrisu Dabban Dauda, on behalf of the officers and men of the Command, expresses his deep sympathy to the family of the deceased and pray to almighty Allah to repose their souls in Jannatul Firdausi.
“Dabban reaffirms the Nigeria Police Force commitment on the ongoing onslaught against terrorism in the state until it is completely routed out.”