Gunmen fire on Nigerian candidate’s convoy in Sokoto
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Vanguard
Armed men opened fire on the convoy of Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, the African Democratic Congress candidate for governor of Sokoto State, who escaped unharmed. State police confirmed receiving a report after the shooting near Sultan Abubakar III International Airport on the evening of 30 October, Vanguard reports.
Armed men opened fire on the convoy of Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for governor of Sokoto State, Nigeria, at about 9pm on Friday 30 October. Dan’iya escaped the attack near Sultan Abubakar III International Airport unharmed, Vanguard reports, while his armoured vehicles were damaged.
Sokoto State police spokesman Ahmad Rufae confirmed receiving a report and said the authorities would take the necessary measures. In a statement issued through his communications adviser, Dan’iya accused members of the Sokoto Marshal and the state’s community guard of blocking his convoy, after which gunfire broke out when discussions failed. He also said that two Department of State Services (DSS) officers assigned to protect him had been detained.
The ADC candidate said vehicles bearing the party’s inscriptions had also been stopped at various entry points into the state. He described the events as an obstruction to political participation and called for those responsible to be held accountable. Dan’iya’s accusations were not confirmed by the police in statements reported by Vanguard.
