Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) gubernatorial candidate for Sokoto State, escaped unhurt after suspected gunmen opened fire on his convoy near the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport on Friday night. The incident occurred at approximately 9:00 p.m. on October 30, 2026, shortly after Dan’iya had escorted former Sokoto State Governor and Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to the airport.
According to a statement issued by Dan’iya’s media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, personnel from the Sokoto Marshal and the Sokoto State Community Guard blocked the convoy and prevented it from passing through the airport area. The statement alleged that these security personnel claimed to be acting on directives from their superiors to bar ADC members from entering Sokoto State. Following failed attempts by Dan’iya’s security team to resolve the confrontation, gunshots were fired, resulting in damage to the candidate’s bulletproof sports utility vehicles.
The statement further claimed that two Department of State Services (DSS) operatives attached to the candidate’s security detail were detained during the standoff. Dan’iya described the event as a threat to his personal safety and a development that could undermine democratic freedoms and peaceful coexistence in the state. He noted that his team had observed unusual deployments of security personnel at various entry points into the state earlier in the day, where vehicles bearing ADC inscriptions were allegedly stopped.
DSP Ahmad Rufae, the Public Relations Officer for the Sokoto State Police Command, confirmed that the command had received a report of the incident at the airport. Rufae stated that the police would take necessary action and that anyone found culpable would be dealt with in accordance with the law. However, the specific allegations regarding the blocking of the convoy and the detention of DSS operatives had not been independently verified at the time of reporting.
“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,” Dan’iya said. “No one should be above the law, and no security outfit should be used to threaten political opponents.”
In response to the incident, Dan’iya visited the state’s Commissioner of Police to formally report the event and seek intervention. He has called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS, and other security authorities to investigate the circumstances, identify those responsible, and determine if any unlawful orders were issued. The candidate also demanded the immediate release of the detained DSS operatives and urged authorities to preserve video footage and operational records for an impartial inquiry.
Dan’iya appealed to the Federal Government, the National Assembly, and human rights organizations to monitor the security situation in Sokoto, warning that political intimidation could threaten the credibility of the democratic process. Despite the attack, he urged his supporters to remain calm and avoid retaliation, insisting that the ADC would continue to pursue its political ambitions peacefully and lawfully. As of the time of filing, there was no official response from the Sokoto State Government, the Sokoto Marshal, or the Community Guard regarding the allegations.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
