Abuja Time
Modu Gubio, Borno ANPP guber candidate
Tragedy struck in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, Friday as the gubernatorial candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples’ Party (ANPP) in the April poll, Fannami Modu Gubio, and six others were shot dead by unknown gunmen.
Gubio was also a cousin of Governor Ali Modu Sheriff and Commissioner for Finance in the ANPP administration in the state. He was elected the flag bearer of the party a fortnight ago.
Among those killed were another brother of the governor who was chairman of Sheriff’s Ngala local government, Alhaji Goni Modu Sheriff, and two mobile policemen attached to the deceased gubernatorial candidate.
A minor, whose identity was not known last night, was also killed in the incident.
THISDAY learnt that Gubio and others were returning home through Lawan Bukar Street within Maiduguri Metropolis at about 3 pm after the Jumat prayers when they met their death.
It was learnt that the gunmen trailed Gubio on a motorcycle and opened fire on him and others immediately they levelled up with them.
They were all left in the pool of their blood as the assailants continued to shoot into the air to ward off any reprisal attack.
The corpses of the deceased, it was gathered, have already been deposited at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) mortuary.
Borno State Commis-sioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, who confirmed the killing, said he had received the information concerning the killings.
He said they were shot by gunmen on motorbike and that their corpses, six adults and a minor, have been deposited at the UMTH morgue.
"He (Gubio) was shot and killed this afternoon. Obviously it's a political assassination. It was himself and six others," Mohammed said.
The state had earlier been ravaged by the Boko Haram saga in which many lives were lost last year and early this year.
But there had also been violent skirmishes in the state in the build-up to the forthcoming elections.
Gubio was born on August 28, 1960. He is a 1981 graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. He is survived by a wife and children.
He was said to be the candidate to beat in the April governorship poll having been endorsed for the job by Sheriff who controls the ruling party in the state.
The news of the death of the governorship candidate immediately threw the city into confusion.
Business suddenly came to a halt as many shops were hurriedly closed as people started returning to their various homes.
Meanwhile, ANPP has condemned the killing of Gubio and six others.
The party in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Emma Eneukwu, said the sad incident was clearly a return to the dark days of political violence where bloodshed was used as an option to outwit opponent.
"ANPP condemns in its entirety the dastardly killing of seven people in Maiduguri including our governorship candidate. The sad incident is clearly a retrogression into the dark days of political violence where bloodshed was an option to outwit opponent," he said.
The party said the state of insecurity in the land had reached its peak, adding that the government had a responsibility to tell Nigerians the concrete steps being taken to arrest the situation.
"This is one killing too many and those responsible for this must be brought to book in earnest. Coming at this point in time when preparations for the next elections hot up, the killing presents an ominous sigh for the coming elections," the party added.
Tragedy struck in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, Friday as the gubernatorial candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples’ Party (ANPP) in the April poll, Fannami Modu Gubio, and six others were shot dead by unknown gunmen.
Gubio was also a cousin of Governor Ali Modu Sheriff and Commissioner for Finance in the ANPP administration in the state. He was elected the flag bearer of the party a fortnight ago.
Among those killed were another brother of the governor who was chairman of Sheriff’s Ngala local government, Alhaji Goni Modu Sheriff, and two mobile policemen attached to the deceased gubernatorial candidate.
A minor, whose identity was not known last night, was also killed in the incident.
THISDAY learnt that Gubio and others were returning home through Lawan Bukar Street within Maiduguri Metropolis at about 3 pm after the Jumat prayers when they met their death.
It was learnt that the gunmen trailed Gubio on a motorcycle and opened fire on him and others immediately they levelled up with them.
They were all left in the pool of their blood as the assailants continued to shoot into the air to ward off any reprisal attack.
The corpses of the deceased, it was gathered, have already been deposited at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) mortuary.
Borno State Commis-sioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, who confirmed the killing, said he had received the information concerning the killings.
He said they were shot by gunmen on motorbike and that their corpses, six adults and a minor, have been deposited at the UMTH morgue.
"He (Gubio) was shot and killed this afternoon. Obviously it's a political assassination. It was himself and six others," Mohammed said.
The state had earlier been ravaged by the Boko Haram saga in which many lives were lost last year and early this year.
But there had also been violent skirmishes in the state in the build-up to the forthcoming elections.
Gubio was born on August 28, 1960. He is a 1981 graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. He is survived by a wife and children.
He was said to be the candidate to beat in the April governorship poll having been endorsed for the job by Sheriff who controls the ruling party in the state.
The news of the death of the governorship candidate immediately threw the city into confusion.
Business suddenly came to a halt as many shops were hurriedly closed as people started returning to their various homes.
Meanwhile, ANPP has condemned the killing of Gubio and six others.
The party in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Emma Eneukwu, said the sad incident was clearly a return to the dark days of political violence where bloodshed was used as an option to outwit opponent.
"ANPP condemns in its entirety the dastardly killing of seven people in Maiduguri including our governorship candidate. The sad incident is clearly a retrogression into the dark days of political violence where bloodshed was an option to outwit opponent," he said.
The party said the state of insecurity in the land had reached its peak, adding that the government had a responsibility to tell Nigerians the concrete steps being taken to arrest the situation.
"This is one killing too many and those responsible for this must be brought to book in earnest. Coming at this point in time when preparations for the next elections hot up, the killing presents an ominous sigh for the coming elections," the party added.
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