Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has countered claims by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, by releasing what he described as a timeline of “sponsored political thuggery and violence” in Kaduna State between 2016 and 2021.
In a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), the former lawmaker chronicled a series of violent incidents he alleged were politically motivated and orchestrated during El-Rufai’s tenure as governor. He argued that those incidents serve as a clear record of political persecution and intimidation, dismissing what he termed “political witch-hunt” against opposition voices in the state.
Timeline of Attacks and Violence
According to Sani, the following incidents occurred within the five-year period:
1. Attack on Constituency Office (December 3, 2016): Gunmen reportedly stormed his constituency office, injuring staff and supporters, while carting away phones and valuables.
2. NUJ Secretariat Attack (July 30, 2017): Armed thugs allegedly disrupted a press conference at the Kaduna branch of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). Victims included Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, Senator Shehu Sani himself, PDP governorship aspirant Hon. Isah Ashiru Kudan, Tijjani Ramalan, Haruna Saeed, and several journalists. The attackers reportedly destroyed equipment and stole valuables.
3. Governor’s Public Incitement (May 10, 2018): At a gathering of APC supporters in Ranchers Bees Stadium, El-Rufai allegedly cursed three senators and openly urged the crowd to attack them. The then APC National Chairman, Dr. John Oyegun, was said to have been in attendance.
4. NUT Hotel Hall Attack (April 29, 2018): Thugs invaded the NUT End Well Conference Hotel, disrupting a political meeting led by Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, with Tijjani Ramalan of Liberty TV, Lawal Adamu (now a Senator), and others in attendance. A young man identified as Labaran Umar from Badarawa Ward was reportedly killed during the attack.
5. Abduction of Dadiyata (August 2, 2019): Gunmen attacked and abducted Mr. Idris Abubakar, popularly known as Dadiyata, a critic of the state government. Sani noted that six years later, Dadiyata remains missing without trace.
6. NLC Protest Disruption (May 18, 2021): Armed thugs allegedly attacked a peaceful protest organized by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against mass sackings of civil servants and teachers. The NLC accused the Governor’s Special Assistant on Public Affairs of leading the attack. The union issued a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Dr. Peter Ezo, calling for the aide’s arrest. NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba was later declared wanted by the Kaduna State Government for alleged “economic sabotage.”
“We survived all these”
Reflecting on the incidents, Shehu Sani wrote:
“To the glory of our Lord, we survived all these. All of the above can be verified using Google search, Grok, or any means of online verification.”
The former senator maintained that his documentation serves as evidence of systemic intimidation and violence against opposition politicians, journalists, and activists in Kaduna under El-Rufai’s leadership.
Sani’s counter comes amid renewed debate on governance and political accountability following recent remarks credited to El-Rufai. By publishing the timeline, the senator insists that history should not be rewritten, and that the scars of political thuggery in Kaduna remain fresh in the memories of victims and survivors.