GUNMEN ATTACK ADC GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE’S CONVOY IN SOKOTO
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By ‘Balogun Ibrahim
The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Sokoto State, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, has reportedly escaped unhurt after suspected gunmen attacked his convoy near the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport on Friday night.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 9pm on October 30, 2026, shortly after Dan’iya had accompanied former Sokoto State Governor and Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to the airport.
Reports indicated that the candidate’s bulletproof sport utility vehicles sustained damage during the shooting.
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Confirming the incident, the Sokoto State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufae, said the command had received a report of the shooting near the airport and would take appropriate action.
He added that anyone found responsible would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
However, in a statement issued by his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, Dan’iya alleged that personnel of the Sokoto Marshal and the Sokoto State Community Guard blocked his convoy and prevented it from accessing the airport area.
According to the statement, the personnel claimed they were acting on instructions from their superiors not to allow ADC members into Sokoto State.
It further alleged that efforts by members of Dan’iya’s security team to resolve the confrontation were unsuccessful before gunshots were fired, damaging the candidate’s bulletproof vehicles.
The statement also claimed that two Department of State Services (DSS) operatives attached to the candidate’s security detail were detained during the incident.
Dan’iya described the development as a threat to his personal safety and a situation capable of undermining democratic freedoms, political participation and peaceful coexistence in the state.
The ADC candidate further alleged that earlier on Friday, his team had noticed unusual deployments of Sokoto Marshal and Community Guard personnel at different entry points into the state, where vehicles bearing ADC inscriptions were allegedly prevented from gaining access.
He said the operations, which initially appeared to be routine security activities, had raised concerns about a possible attempt to restrict the movement and political activities of opposition members.
“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.
The candidate disclosed that he had visited the state Commissioner of Police to formally report the incident, present his account of events and seek intervention.
He called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS and other relevant security authorities to investigate the incident, identify those responsible and establish whether any unlawful directives had been issued.
Dan’iya also demanded the immediate release of the two DSS operatives, if they were still in custody. He urged the authorities to preserve available video footage, operational records, eyewitness accounts and other evidence to ensure an impartial investigation.
He appealed to the Federal Government, the National Assembly, human rights organisations and the international community to pay attention to the security situation in Sokoto, warning that political intimidation and violence could undermine the credibility of the democratic process.
The ADC candidate also called on the Sokoto State Government to clarify the alleged directives attributed to the security personnel and ensure that state-controlled security outfits operated within the law and without political interference.
“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 incident, Dan’iya urged his supporters to remain calm, avoid provocation and refrain from retaliation, insisting that intimidation and violence would not force him or the ADC to abandon their constitutional and democratic rights.
He said he remained committed to pursuing his political ambition peacefully and lawfully, while urging security agencies to protect citizens regardless of their political affiliations.
The allegations contained in the ADC statement had yet to be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.
There was also no official response from the Sokoto State Government, the Sokoto Marshal or the Community Guard explaining their account of the incident.
The police and other relevant security authorities are expected to provide further clarification on the reported shooting, the alleged detention of the DSS operatives and the damage to the candidate’s convoy.
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