We’re transporting sensitive materials—OFFICER

By Suzan Edeh

Bauchi—Spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Professor Ango Abdullahi, was yesterday shot at by some soldiers in Bauchi on his way to Gadau.

Vanguard gathered that the former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, was attacked by the soldiers as his driver attempted to overtake a military convoy.

Professor Abdullahi told newsmen in Bauchi that he was going for an official assignment at Bauchi State University, Gadau, where he is the chairman of the university’s governing council, when the incident happened.

He said: “I was travelling to Gadau in my official car for a meeting. We had just passed the Awala Hotel roundabout, when I saw a military convoy moving very slowly.

“I was trying to catch up for the meeting, so my driver overtook the military convoy. The next thing I knew they opened fire on us, spraying the car with bullets.

“The bullets damaged the engine of the car, so we had to park by the road side. The soldiers came out and were shouting angrily at us.

“They were demanding to know why we wanted to overtake them, asking if we did not know that the soldiers were exporting sensitive materials.

“They just left us there and continued their journey. I have never seen such a reckless act.

Apologies

“I called Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed, the state Commissioner for Higher Education and told him. He called the security agency chiefs to inform them of what happened.”

He said the Army later sent a captain, who apologized and promised to investigate the matter.

When contacted, Mohammed confirmed the attack on Professor Abdullahi by soldiers, but expressed happiness over the quick response of the service chiefs, saying they had apologized.

He said: “They all apologized to the professor and he was happy at their response, but he was traumatized because his driver said a bullet nearly hit the professor.

“The car was riddled with bullets. But thank God no one was hurt. The car was badly damaged.”