– Witness Says ‘We Hid In The Bush’
Finally, the creeping cover of insecurity especially in Northern Nigeriahas taken over President Muhammadu Buhari’s home State of Katsina, as heavily armed terrorists on Tuesday ambushed the advance team of Presidential convoy heading for Daura, Buhari’s hometown, ahead of Sallah.
Indeed, this is a personal and direct attack on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by terrorists who have been receiving kid gloves from his government.
The ambush also occurred the same day an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Aminu Umar, was shot dead by the terrorists in Katsina
Presidential Spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said that Nigeria’s number one citizen was not in the convoy at the time of the attack near Dutsinma in Katsina but that it was repelled by “gallant presidential guards.”
According to a statement by Shehu, “the Presidency has described as sad and unwelcome, the shooting incident near Dutsinma, Katsina State, at the convoy of cars carrying the Advance Team of security guards, protocol and media officers ahead of President, Muhammadu Buhari’s trip to Daura for Sallah.”
“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. All the other personnel, staff and vehicles made it safely to Daura.”
Shehu’s statement was issued moments after news broke that an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) was killed in Katsina by the terrorists.
This is just as a Katsina resident who witnessed the attack on the Presidential convoy narrated how he escaped as he was nearly caught in the middle of the clash.
Disclosing that he and some people hid in a nearby bush, the witness said they were on their way back to Dutsinma from Kankara when they saw a band of terrorists crossing the road on motorcycles and had to run for safety.
He said some of them ran into the Turare village while others hid in the bushes, until they sighted a long military convoy which eventually cleared the road for them to reach Dutsin-Ma.
Earlier, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Aminu Umar, was shot dead by the terrorists in Katsina.
The deceased and his team members were ambushed while on a clearance operation in Zakka forest, Safana Local Government Area of the State.
Commenting on the incident, SP Gambo Isah, Police Public Relations Officer in Katsina, said Umar died in a battle the Police had with over 300 terrorists.
He said one other person died in the incident, but he did not disclose the identity of the other victim.