Joseph Erunke
18 August 2007
Lafia — FORMER Head of States and All Nigeria People Party (ANPP) presidential candidate in the April presidential election, General Muhammadu Buhari narrowly escaped death yesterday, in Lafia, Nasarawa State, but a police officer attached to him was badly injured. His personal vehicle with registration number AZ 2549 MKA and two others in his convoy were not as lucky as hoodlums believed to be supporters of a rival political party, severely damaged it.
The incident occurred at the main gate of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, along Shendam Road, Lafia, when the politician, who was in the state to monitor proceedings at the Nasarawa State Election Petitions Tribunal, involving former Minister of State for FCT and All Nigeria People Party's governorship candidate in the state, Chief Solomon Ewuga and Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma, was returning back to Abuja, after listening to half of the days proceedings. The hoodlums used dangerous weapons such as axes, machetes and long sticks.
Buhari, who was held hostage for over ten minutes at the gate of the hospital by the hoodlums was shielded by over two hundred stern-looking police men who were earlier drafted from the state police command to control thousands of supporters of both PDP and ANPP.
General Buhari, speaking to newsmen at the residence of Chief Solomon Ewuga, in Alushi, Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Council of the state, where anxious reporters had trailed him to, blamed the incident on the Police.
"I think the hoodlums did this in connivance with the Police because we saw them carrying photographs of the state governor when we were going to the court earlier. The Police ought to have noticed that and made sure they covered our convoy properly; they were not up to fifty, I saw them when we were going to the court in the morning and I saw them when we were coming back," he said.
He showed his damaged car to journalists. One of the Police officers in his convoy showed reporters some of the weapons they were able to seize from some of the hoodlums, which included axes.
"I think this is the only way I can support our candidates in the ANPP and to me it is absolutely normal," he said.
Commenting on his case pending before the Supreme Court, General Buhari expressed hope that he was confident of getting justice at the apex court when the case is heard.
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