By Jackson Debby
Residents of Gusau, Zamfara State capital, have accused the state government of complicity in the alleged abduction of Ambassador Bashir Isa Gusau, the Northwest Tinubu/Shettima Youth Coordinator for Zamfara State.
Gusau, a prominent supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, was reportedly taken from his residence by armed men, sparking controversy over whether he was kidnapped by bandits or detained by government operatives.
An eyewitness, who requested anonymity, claimed that “more than 30 armed bandits” stormed Gusau’s residence and abducted him in front of his wife, leaving the neighborhood in confusion.
However, residents have cast doubt on the bandit narrative, pointing instead to what they describe as a pattern of arrests targeting opposition party members in the state.
“We believe that our member Bashir Isa was abducted and detained by Zamfara government, not kidnapped by any group of bandits,” said Dr. Ado Usman Charanci, APC Support Group Northwest Coordinator, in a press statement.
According to the statement, efforts to locate Gusau through security agencies including the Police Headquarters in Gusau, the Department of State Security Service (DSS), and the Civil Defence proved unsuccessful.
“After some minutes of the ugly incident, we contacted the relevant security agents… only to discover that Isa Gusau is nowhere to be found,” a source disclosed.
Some reports allege that Gusau was taken by unknown security operatives attached to the Government House in Gusau and is being held in one of the guest houses within the premises.
The APC Support Group has called on security agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding Gusau’s disappearance and warned the Zamfara state government, led by Governor Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), against what they termed “intimidation and persecution of innocent APC supporters.”
Gusau is known for his active role in mobilizing support for President Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the Northwest zone.
His family members have expressed confusion and frustration over their inability to determine the reason for his detention or secure his release.
The Zamfara state government has not issued an official statement on the allegations at the time of this report.
Middle-Belt Times 