Borno ANPP guber candidate, six others killed by gunmen

Also killed was the elder brother of the governor, Alhaji Goni Modu Ngala, two policemen guarding the gubernatorial candidate and four other people including a kolanut seller, a shoe shiner and a teenage boy were also killed during the attack. Four other people who received serious injuries are now receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital. […]

Also killed was the elder brother of the governor, Alhaji Goni Modu Ngala, two policemen guarding the gubernatorial candidate and four other people including a kolanut seller, a shoe shiner and a teenage boy were also killed during the attack. Four other people who received serious injuries are now receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

 

Until his death, Gubio, 51, was the Commissioner of Finance, while Goni Modu was a former Chairman of Ngala local government area. Witnesses said all seven people were gunned down shortly after Friday prayers, around 2.20pm.

The gunmen, about eight, were said to have arrived the area in an unmarked Sports Unity Vehicle (SUV) and a motorcycle, before they fired several shots at Gubio and all the people nearby, sources said.

According to Borno State Police Commissioner Mohammed Ababakar: “We will not rule out many possibilities, including that  of a political nature, as well as the guerrilla approach of Boko Haram sect.” He added that immediately after the attacks, the assassins fled away from the scene into the neighbouring areas of Shehuri, Abbaganaram and the Customs area of Maiduguri metropolis.

As at the time of filing this report, several people have been arrested by a combined team of police and military personnel. “The entire Lawan Bukar and Bulabulin wards have been condoned off by the police, including parts of the palace of Shehu of Borno in pursuit of the fleeing gunmen,” the commissioner said.

Shortly after the attack, about four ambulances arrived at the scene and carried the corpses to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). Governor Sheriff, who was at the hospital, was seen trying to control tears from his eyes. He did not utter a word even as he was being consoled by family members and associates.

Gubio became the flag-bearer of the ANPP in the recently concluded primary elections of the party. The Borno State government described as sad and unfortunate, the murder of Gubio. Information commissioner Alhaji Habu Kyari, who made the announcement in a state-wide broadcast, prayed God to grant the souls of the deceased eternal rest and the  family, the fortitude to bear the lost. Kyari also urged “all people of goodwill” to intensify prayers “so that the perpetrators would be brought to book. He said Gubio will be laid to rest today, Saturday, by 9am, while the bodies of Goni Modu Ngala, elder brother of  Governor Sheriff will be buried at 10am.

A former member of the House of Reps Dr Haruna Yerima yesterday condoled the people of Borno State but also called on the federal government to declare state of emergency. “Borno is now a lawless society because no single person is safe as a result of the prevailing lack of security in the state,” Yerima, a former lecturer at the Nigerian Defence Academy, said.

The police commissioner appealed to the general public to fully cooperate with the police by providing more information on the gunmen. He also pleaded for prayers so that the modus operandi of the gunmen that that have been targeting policemen, soldiers and other security personnel in Borno State could be unravelled.

In less than one week, three soldiers and a police man were killed while many security men were hit by bullets during encounters with gunmen who mostly operate on motorcycles. It would be recalled that unknown gunmen last October killed the ANPP North-East Chairman, Awala Ali Ngala in his house. Until his death, he was also touted as a likely successor of Sheriff.

The state government had banned motorcycle operations from 6pm to 6am, but recent killings are being carried out in broad daylight, even with the dozens of checkpoints all over Maiduguri metropolis.