The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Sokoto State, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, has reportedly escaped an attack after gunmen opened fire on his convoy near the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto.
The incident, which reportedly happened at about 9pm on Friday, occurred shortly after Dan’iya escorted former Sokoto State Governor and serving Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to the airport.
Although the ADC candidate was said to have escaped without injuries, some vehicles in his convoy reportedly sustained damage during the shooting.
The vehicles were said to be bulletproof sports utility vehicles.
The circumstances surrounding the attack remain unclear.
However, Dan’iya has accused personnel of the Sokoto Marshal and the Sokoto State Community Guard of obstructing his convoy before gunshots were fired.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, the ADC candidate alleged that security personnel blocked the movement of his convoy around the airport and refused to allow the vehicles to proceed.
According to the statement, the personnel claimed they were acting on instructions from their superiors not to allow members of the ADC into Sokoto State.
The statement explained that the situation initially developed into a confrontation as members of Dan’iya’s security team reportedly attempted to resolve the disagreement with the personnel at the scene.
However, the candidate alleged that the efforts to settle the matter peacefully failed, resulting in gunshots that damaged some of the vehicles in his convoy.
The statement further claimed that two operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), who were attached to Dan’iya’s security detail, were detained during the incident.
Reacting to the development, the ADC governorship candidate described the incident as a serious threat to his safety and the freedom of political participation in Sokoto State.
He also raised concerns over what he described as attempts to restrict opposition members from entering the state and carrying out their lawful political activities.
Dan’iya disclosed that the incident was not the first indication of a possible restriction on the movement of ADC members in the state.
He alleged that earlier on Friday, his team had noticed unusual deployments of personnel of the Sokoto Marshal and Community Guard at different entry points into Sokoto State.
According to him, vehicles bearing ADC inscriptions were allegedly stopped from entering the state, raising questions about the purpose of the security operations.
The candidate said his team initially considered the deployments to be part of routine security activities. However, the alleged restrictions and subsequent confrontation near the airport increased his concerns about the treatment of opposition members.
Speaking on the incident, Dan’iya called for an immediate investigation and questioned the circumstances under which security personnel could allegedly prevent a governorship candidate from moving freely within the state.
“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.
“No one should be above the law, and no security outfit should be used to threaten political opponents,” Dan’iya was quoted as saying.
Following the incident, the ADC candidate said he had visited the Commissioner of Police in Sokoto State to formally report what happened and request the intervention of the police authorities.
He also called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS and other relevant security agencies to investigate the matter and establish the circumstances that led to the reported shooting.
Dan’iya specifically requested that the authorities identify the personnel involved, determine who authorised the alleged restrictions and investigate whether any unlawful instructions were given to security operatives.
He further demanded the immediate release of the two DSS operatives allegedly detained during the confrontation, if they were still being held.
The ADC candidate also urged the relevant authorities to ensure that all available evidence relating to the incident was preserved.
Such evidence, according to him, should include video recordings, operational records, eyewitness accounts and other materials that could help establish what happened.
He maintained that an independent investigation would be necessary to determine the responsibilities of the different security personnel involved and prevent a recurrence of the incident.
The candidate also appealed to the Federal Government, the National Assembly, human rights organisations and the international community to pay attention to the security situation in Sokoto State.
He warned that any attempt to use security formations to restrict political participation could create tension and affect confidence in the democratic process, particularly as political activities gradually increase ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Dan’iya also called on the Sokoto State Government to publicly clarify the alleged instructions attributed to the personnel of the Sokoto Marshal and Community Guard.
He insisted that security organisations operating within the state must carry out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and should not be involved in actions that could be interpreted as targeting members of a particular political party.
Reiterating his position on the right of Nigerians to move freely, the ADC candidate said no political party or government had the authority to prevent citizens from entering Sokoto State because of their political affiliation.
“Sokoto is not the property of any government or political party. Every Nigerian has the right to enter the state, move freely and participate in lawful political activities. Any order intended to exclude ADC members from Sokoto would be unacceptable and must be investigated,” he said.
Despite the development, Dan’iya appealed to his supporters and members of the ADC to remain calm and avoid any action that could escalate the situation.
He urged them not to engage in retaliation or confront security personnel, stressing that the party would continue to exercise its political rights through peaceful and lawful means.
The candidate also maintained that the reported incident would not force him to abandon his political ambition or withdraw from the democratic process.
Meanwhile, the Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed receiving a report concerning the incident around the airport.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufae, said the police were aware of the development and would take the necessary steps.
He also warned that anyone found responsible for wrongdoing would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
However, the police confirmation did not provide a detailed account of how the shooting occurred or establish the identities of those responsible.
As of the time of filing this report, the allegations made by Dan’iya and his media aide had not been independently verified.
There was also no detailed public account from the Sokoto State Government, the Sokoto Marshal or the Community Guard explaining their involvement in the reported confrontation.