The Police in Kaduna State and Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, are in disagreement over the ‘killing’ of 16 kano indigenes on the Abuja-Kaduna Highway by gunmen within the week.
Ganduje had on Thursday said they died as a result of an attack from unidentified gunmen.
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But on Friday morning, the Police in Kaduna debunked the claim.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige, the incident occurred on 8th December, 2020 at 1.20hours.
He said it was a lone fatal motor vehicle accident along Kaduna-Zaria expressway involving a Hummer Bus belonging to Yasalam Transport, with Reg. No FGE 553 ZS, driven by one Malam Mohammadu Baban Yau’m’ of Danbatta LGA of Kano State.
He said: “The attention of the Kaduna State Police Command has been drawn to a misleading publication by one Murtala Adewale Kano, going round on social media via Guardian online newspaper of 10th December 2020 titled ‘Gunmen kill 16 travellers on Abuja-Kaduna highway.’
“The reporter made reference to a press statement purportedly made available to journalist by one Abba Anwar, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Of Kano State.
“The Command wishes to categorically debunk the news making the rounds in its entirety and set the record straight and make clarifications to what actually happened as follows; the bus was conveying 19 passengers from Kano State heading to Abuja on a business trip.
“However, on reaching Alcon Filing Station Opposite Dr. Ibrahim Jalo House, Rigachukun Igabi LGA, Kaduna, the driver lost control of the vehicle, summersaulted and fell into a ditch, as a result of which nine passengers died on the spot while 10 others who sustained varying degrees of injuries were immediately rushed to St. Gerard’s Hospital Kakuri, Kaduna where seven more passengers unfortunately died while receiving medical attention bringing the number of causalities to 16.
“Three persons that survived are undergoing treatment.
“The Command by this release states the facts as it happened and implore the general public to discontinue the attribution of this painful loss of life to banditry.”
Jalige added that it needed to make the clarifications on the matters bothering on National security to allay the fears and apprehension the misleading information must have put in the minds of people and road users.
Ganduje’s claim
Reacting to the said killings on Thursday, Ganduje had expressed shock over the death of the indigenes of the state.
In a condolence message signed by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Abba Anwar, Ganduje said he was devastated over the tragic development.
“We were shocked with the bad news of the death of 16 Dambatta indigenes on Abuja-Kaduna highway, who were travelling from Abuja to Kano, as a result of an attack from unidentified gunmen.
“The news is devastating and frustrating.
“We commiserate with the families of the deceased, the people of Dambatta local government, and the people of Kano state,” he said.
He prayed for their souls to rest in peace and for their families to get fortitude to bear the loss.
“May Allah accept their martyrdom and may He punish all the perpetrators of this heinous act,” he added.
However, Daily Trust can not independently confirm or refute any of the claims at the moment.
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