The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Sokoto State, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, has reportedly escaped unhurt after suspected gunmen opened fire on his convoy near the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport on Friday night.
The incident reportedly occurred around 9pm on Friday October 30, 2026, shortly after Dan’iya escorted former Sokoto State Governor and Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to the airport.
Reports indicated that the shooting damaged some of the candidate’s bulletproof Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), although he was not injured.
Confirming the incident, the Sokoto State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufae, said the command had received a report about the shooting and would take necessary action.
He warned 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 security personnel reportedly claimed they were acting on instructions from their superiors not to allow ADC members into Sokoto State.
The statement further alleged that efforts by members of Dan’iya’s security team to resolve the disagreement failed before gunshots were fired, resulting in damage to the candidate’s bulletproof vehicles.
It also claimed that two Department of State Services (DSS) operatives attached to the candidate’s security team were detained during the confrontation.
Describing the incident as a threat to his personal safety and democratic freedoms, Dan’iya called for an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The ADC candidate also alleged that earlier on Friday, his team had observed unusual deployments of Sokoto Marshal and Community Guard personnel at different entry points into the state, where vehicles bearing ADC inscriptions were allegedly stopped from entering.
He expressed concern that the alleged actions could be part of an attempt to restrict the movement and political activities of opposition members in the state.
“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 Commissioner of Police in Sokoto State to formally report the incident and seek intervention.
He subsequently called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS and other relevant security authorities to investigate the matter, identify those responsible and establish whether unlawful orders had been issued.
Dan’iya also demanded the immediate release of the two DSS operatives, if they remained in custody, while urging authorities to preserve available video footage, operational records and eyewitness accounts to ensure an impartial investigation.
He further appealed to the Federal Government, the National Assembly, human rights organisations and the international community to pay attention to the security situation in Sokoto State.
The ADC candidate challenged 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 without political interference.
He insisted that every Nigerian had the constitutional right to enter Sokoto State, move freely and participate in lawful political activities, irrespective of political affiliation.
Despite the incident, Dan’iya urged his supporters to remain calm, avoid provocation and refrain from retaliation.
He maintained that neither intimidation nor violence would force him or the ADC to abandon their constitutional and democratic rights, adding that he would continue pursuing his political ambition peacefully and lawfully.
Meanwhile, the allegations contained in the ADC statement had yet to be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.
The Sokoto State Government, Sokoto Marshal and Community Guard had also not issued official statements explaining their accounts of the incident.
The police and other relevant security authorities are expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the reported shooting, the alleged detention of the DSS operatives and the damage to the candidate’s convoy.
