The Police in Minna, the Niger State capital, have given an account of what transpired in the Minna residence (not Abuja as earlier reported) of Senator Sani Musa, insisting that it was not an assassination attempt as announced by All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APCPCC) spokesman, Femi Fani-Kayode, and reported by media houses.
The Police also paraded four men arrested at the scene of what they described as the “purported execution of search without any warrant.”
The Police statement, by its spokesperson in Minna, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, titled, “NO ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT OF A SENATOR IN MINNA, AS FOUR SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY AND IMPERSONATION” reads in full: “Niger State Police Command wishes to respond to an online publication which stated that there was an assassination attempt of Senator in Minna, which is untrue and false.
“The fact of the incident is that on 03/12/2022 at about 1900hrs, based on a distress call received that some strange suspicious persons, driving a Toyota Sienna vehicle with Reg. No. FKJ 814 GP invaded the house of a Senator, located at Tudun-Wada, Minna.
“The Command immediately mobilised tactical teams to the scene and the following suspects were arrested;
-Oladele Peter Akano aged 49yrs ‘m’ of Kuruduma, Abuja
-Abdul Salisu aged 31yrs ‘m’ of Gwagwalada, Abuja
-Felix Clarkson aged 47yrs ‘m’ of Karo Abuja
-Babagana Alhaji aged 39yrs ‘m’ of Chideri-Polo, Maiduguri
“During interrogation, the suspects claimed that they were mobilised by one Sherrif, a purported whistleblower who was reportedly claiming to be working with a security agency at Abuja but presently at large.
“The said Sherrif invited Akano, who is a teacher in a private school at Abuja. He also invited Clarkson, an instructor in a private institute ‘INSMO’ Abuja, Salisu who is a plumber from Gwagwalada, provided hammer and chisel for house breaking and Babagana Alhaji, with five others presently at large.
“Suspects confessed further that Sherrif stated there are foreign currency and arms kept in the residence of the Politician, hence they travelled from Abuja to Minna for a purported execution of search without any warrant.
“However, on getting to the residence, the security operatives attached to the house suspected the fake team and raised alarm for reinforcement, while the Police operatives attached to Tudun-Wada Div and Anti-kidnapping team of the Command were drafted to the scene.
“Four among the suspects were arrested with the said Toyota Sienna vehicle, while others took to their heels, on sighting the Police reinforcement teams.
“Meanwhile, suspects have been transferred to SCID Minna for discreet investigation and investigation is ongoing with a view to apprehend other members of the gang.
“The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command CP Ogundele J. Ayodeji, psc(+) hereby enjoins members of the public to disregard such report of assassination attempt of a Senator, as the said Politician was not in Minna as at the time of the incident.”
But other reports out of Minna give a slightly different account.
It was learnt that the group that came to Senator Musa’s residence at about 8.00 p.m. included two men in military uniform.
They, together with four others, who claimed to be from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) Abuja on a search mission, claiming they had information that there were stockpiled arms and ammunitions, including some foreign currencies in the Senator’s house.
Though they allegedly demobilised the security men standing guard at the Senator’s residence, word had leaked to an ally of the senator.
He subsequently reached out to other parties, including the All Progressive Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate in the state, Alhaji Umar Bago.
They mobilised and rushed to Musa’s house where the suspects were rounded up.
A similar incident involving the senator two years ago, but like Saturday night, he was not at home.