By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi
Senate Security and Intelligence Committee Chairman, Senator Shehu Buba Umar, has condemned in totality the recent attack in his constituency by a government quasi-security outfit that left one dead and two others critically receiving treatments in a hospital.
Senator Buba Umar, representing Bauchi South Senatorial district, described the incident as unfortunate, and called for thorough investigation with a view to bring the culprits to justice.
Speaking with journalists in his constituency at the weekend during a condolence visit to families of the victims, the senator assured the families of those attacked that the killers will not escape justice.
The senator recalled that it all happened in Zaranda Gari community in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi state with shootings that led to the death of a 35 year old resident, Abubakar Yahaya, while two other residents, Husseini Yunusa, 20, and Yayangida Husseini, 16, sustained fatal injuries.
Senator Buba, who hailed from Nabordo district which housed the Zaranda village, visited the families of the deceased and the injured persons and sympathized with them over the unfortunate incident.
Buba expressed sadness over the incident, saying no individual or group of individuals has the right to take the laws into their hands
Senator Buba, while describing the incident as unfortunate and brutal, however called on the police to thoroughly investigate the incident to ensure that those found guilty are prosecuted before the law
“The purpose of my visit? This is my constituency not only my constituency, it’s my local government, not only my local government, it is my district, not only my district, its my ward. It is my home town,” he told journalists
“I came purposely to visit my home town and as well to pay a condolence for the unfortunate tragedy that happened in the community in Zaranda as a result of a brutal killing.
“Our young businessmen were on their lawful business when they were attacked by a group of militia led by somebody called Shayi.
“I was told that they were on their lawful business of selling charcoal and in the course of that, they were attacked in their own hometown.
“They were shot with gun to death. I an assuring the people of Zaranda that we will take every action on this matter for justice to prevail”.
Reacting to the alleged killing, the Bauchi state government said that it is not proper for the Senator to point at one person namely Umaru Shayi as the perpetrator in the said Zaranda village incident or killer of the victim, Abubakar Yahaya.
“This is to protect land depredation, this is to protect environmental depredation, and this is also to protect deforestation. We cannot just fold our arms to see people felling trees.
“So, there is a law in Bauchi state that prohibit, prevent and protect persons from felling trees for making charcoal. I want the senator to consult his lawyer so as to study that law to understand what it is saying”.
“We don’t course to allow our senators or political office holders in the name of politics to be telling or blowing gospels for their people to follow. I think as a senator occupying one of the highest political office in the country, he has to exercise decorum of sharing such information with his people, not just to allow himself to be ridicule by the people of his constituency or minority in that constituency so as to attract followers”.
“Not in that way, you have to be objective on your leadership, and you must have good course to leadership. I will at this juncture advise him not to rely on sentiments to fight his way for attention or get minds of the people”The commissioner told the senator, “I also want to use this medium. I could remember there were weighty allegations against you, that even prior to your advent as a senator representing Bauchi south, you have been instrumental in taking or turning as surety to various accused persons, those that were accused of banditry and other various crimes”.
These weighty allegations were not denied by you, these weighty allegations were not substantiated by you, and at no time you denied these weighty allegations. Unfortunately, most of those allegations were within your party members”.
The penultimate shooting in Zaranda led to massive protest in the village, causing a blockage of the highway, Bauchi – Jos road, police said, adding that there was sporadic firing by members of a quasi-security outfit.
“This incident led to the serious injury of Abubakar Yahaya (35 years old), Hussaini Yunusa (20 years old), and Yayangida Hussaini (16 years old), all from Zaranda Gari village via Toro LGA. They were promptly taken to the Primary HealthCare Center at Zaranda village where unfortunately, Abubakar Yahaya succumbed to his injuries”, the Police spokesman, Ahmed Mohammed Wakil disclosed.
Wakili said the Commissioner of Police has instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Police In-charge of the Department of Operations to mobilize tactical teams, including the Department of Operation, Rapid Response Squad, Operation Restore Peace, Acpol Toro, and Nabordo Division personnel, to handle the situation professionally.
He added that the Command has tasked a dedicated team of investigators to identify investigate,prosecute anyone responsible for the incident
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