Zamfara cries out to Tinubu over alleged abduction of governor’s aide

 

The Zamfara State Government has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the alleged abduction of a senior aide to Governor Dauda Lawal in Abuja.

The aide, Saleem Abubakar, a technical assistant in the governor’s office, was reportedly taken away by security operatives allegedly linked to a special forces unit under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the governor’s spokesman, Sulaiman Idris, accused federal authorities of deploying “state power” to harass and intimidate opposition figures in the state.

According to Idris, Abubakar was picked up without an arrest warrant and taken to undisclosed locations, where he was allegedly moved between different facilities in an attempt to conceal his whereabouts.

He further alleged that the operation was coordinated through the Office of the National Security Adviser and linked it to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

“The most disturbing aspect of this incident is that it was allegedly syndicated through the Office of the NSA by the Minister of State for Defence,” Idris said.

He described the action as dangerous and unacceptable, warning that it sets a troubling precedent for the nation’s security architecture.

“This is a perilous development that all Nigerians must strongly condemn. No level of political desperation should justify compromising the neutrality of security institutions,” he added.

The Zamfara government called on President Tinubu to immediately rein in the Office of the National Security Adviser, stressing that such actions damage Nigeria’s democratic credentials and international reputation.

“If there is any allegation against Saleem Abubakar, the appropriate step is to charge him to court, not to resort to abduction,” the statement said.

The government said it would closely monitor the matter and pursue all lawful means to ensure accountability and justice.