By Amina Abdullahi Girbo
Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi state on Thursday commiserated with the people of Duguri town in Alkaleri local government area of the state, over the killing of one Malam Maiunguwa Shata and 15 others injured during the visit of the APC gubernatorial candidate to the area.
The governor, who is a native of Duguri, took time to comfort the bereaved families, describing the incident as ill-motivated and unfortunate coming at a time when concerted efforts by the state government and relevant security agencies are being made to protect the lives and property of citizens of the state.
“Honestly, it is a very unfortunate incident. On Wednesday we were in Bauchi at the instance of the Commissioner of Police and all the security agencies to sign a peace accord. I was the first to be there.
“When I came back, I was alerted that the APC gubernatorial candidate was coming to my home town. My brother, the District Head has been alerted and all arrangements were made to receive him. He was received in the District Head palace, but when they came out, they were making insinuations that they came to teach me as their son a lesson.
“They were carrying thugs and hooligans with dangerous weapons they were going about chasing people. Apparently, they came on a mission to unleash terror because they had a list of people they wanted to get and they even visited them in their homes. Shot one and killed him there.
“They unleash terror by destroying vehicles, my billboards and anything that they see on the way. You can see the example of the six Keke Napep that were destroyed.
“We have come to pacify them to be patient. They are doing this because of me and we have made reports to the security agencies but we are going to take it because I know our people. We are far away from the seat of government, they have a deep sense of revenge but, I have come to pacify them and they have agreed.
“We want the election to be peaceful. I assure the international community and Nigerians we are not going to submit to cheap blackmail of violence because we believe we are the winners and that we should not play to the gallery and that is why I came with all our people in government.
The governor while pleading with his kith and kins to remain calm and be law-abiding, assured that the perpetrators will be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law.
He added, “This is my village. This is where I was born and this is where I schooled and this is where I came from. It is unthinkable for someone to think that he will come and do these kinds of things with a lot of impunity and arrogance and it will go like this.
Governor Bala Mohammed explained that government will follow all due process to get justice for the defenceless innocent victims of the incident, saying “We will follow the procedure to make our report and complain to the highest level in this country.
“We will make our report to all the authorities concerned, and of course the local authorities here in Bauchi. Being a governor, I cannot be a judge in my own case that’s why we are exercising this restraint, but certainly, the situation is appalling and condemnable. We hope that the authorities will take measures so this thing does not continue.”
