Controversy continues to surround the reported disappearance of an All Progressives Congress (APC) social media influencer, Bashir Isah Gusau, in Zamfara State, as the opposition party accuses the state government of involvement—an allegation the government has strongly denied.
Bashir Isah Gusau was reportedly taken on Wednesday night from a football viewing centre in the Sabon Gari area of Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.
In a statement issued by its publicity secretary, Yusuf Idris Gusau, the Zamfara State chapter of the APC alleged that the influencer was unlawfully arrested by security personnel attached to the Government House.
According to the party, Gusau was taken from the viewing centre at about 10 p.m. by four men who claimed to be security operatives attached to the Government House. The operatives were said to be driving a vehicle with its number plate covered.
The APC further claimed that when bystanders attempted to resist the action, the men allegedly fired shots into the air to disperse the crowd before forcing Gusau into the vehicle and driving off to an undisclosed location.
The party alleged that attempts to trace Gusau at police stations within the state capital proved abortive, adding that his phone lines have remained unreachable since the incident.
Describing the development as an abuse of state authority, the APC accused the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal of using security agencies to intimidate political opponents.
The party said it has contacted its legal team and called on the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to probe the incident.
The APC also urged its members to remain calm, assuring them that party leaders are actively handling the situation.
The Zamfara State Government, however, has rejected the claims.
Responding to the allegations, the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, described them as baseless, stating that Governor Lawal has never been linked to harassment or intimidation of any individual.
He added that the government has no knowledge of the alleged arrest and noted that no evidence has been presented to show that Gusau was taken to the Government House.
Similarly, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Broadcast Media, Mustapha Jafaru Kaura, said the governor is a peace-loving leader and dismissed the accusation as untrue.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the command was not aware of any reported abduction in the state capital.
He added that there was no report of a bandit-related incident connected to the case and assured that further enquiries would be made, with updates to follow.