Gunmen attacked the convoy of Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Sokoto State, on Friday, October 31, 2026. The incident occurred near the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto, shortly after Dan’iya escorted former Sokoto State Governor and serving Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to the airport.
The attack happened at about 9 pm, and although Dan’iya escaped without injuries, some vehicles in his convoy sustained damage. The vehicles, which were bulletproof sports utility vehicles, were damaged during the shooting. The circumstances surrounding the attack remain unclear.
Dan’iya has accused personnel of the Sokoto Marshal and the Sokoto State Community Guard of obstructing his convoy before gunshots were fired. According to his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, the security personnel blocked the movement of Dan’iya’s convoy around the airport and refused to allow the vehicles to proceed, claiming they were acting on instructions from their superiors.
The situation developed into a confrontation as members of Dan’iya’s security team attempted to resolve the disagreement with the personnel at the scene. However, the efforts to settle the matter peacefully failed, resulting in gunshots that damaged some of the vehicles in Dan’iya’s convoy. Two operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), who were attached to Dan’iya’s security detail, were detained during the incident.
Dan’iya described the incident as a serious threat to his safety and the freedom of political participation in Sokoto State. He raised concerns over attempts to restrict opposition members from entering the state and carrying out their lawful political activities. The candidate alleged that earlier on Friday, his team had noticed unusual deployments of personnel of the Sokoto Marshal and Community Guard at different entry points into Sokoto State.
Dan’iya called for an immediate investigation into the incident and questioned the circumstances under which security personnel could allegedly prevent a governorship candidate from moving freely within the state. He visited the Commissioner of Police in Sokoto State to formally report the incident and requested the intervention of the police authorities.
The ADC candidate urged the relevant authorities to investigate the matter, identify the personnel involved, and determine who authorised the alleged restrictions. He also demanded the immediate release of the two DSS operatives allegedly detained during the confrontation and the preservation of all available evidence relating to the incident.
Key points
- The ADC governorship candidate, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, escaped an attack by gunmen near the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto.
- Dan’iya accused security personnel of obstructing his convoy and firing gunshots, resulting in damage to some vehicles.
- The incident has raised concerns about the security situation in Sokoto State and the freedom of political participation.
