Buhari, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who has been in the presidential race since 2003, escaped death by a whisker when a suspected Boko Haram member who tried to break into his convoy in Kaduna while he was on his way to Daura, his hometown in Katsina State, detonated his bomb-laden vehicle that destroyed cars in the convoy.
While Buhari, who was riding in an armoured sport-utility vehicle (SUV) escaped without any injury, some of his security aides sustained varying degree of injuries.
The incident, which President Goodluck Jonathan said would have plunged Nigeria into turmoil if Buhari had been killed, has necessitated the review of security around the APC chief.
When New Telegraph sighted Buhari, who was in New Bussa, in Borgu Local Government of Niger State at the weekend for the wedding of Hadiza, one of the daughters of the Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Haliru Dantoro, he was accompanied to the ceremony by about 30 security agents. Besides the large retinue of security agents, Buhari’s contact with the public was restricted to the barest minimum.
Buhari, who came to Borgu with his security in a convoy of about 12 vehicles, mostly SUVs, was sighted at the Muhammadu Sani Memorial Central Mosque at about 2:09p.m.
He was dressed in sky blue three-piece traditional attire with a cap to match just as his numerous admirers, mostly, youths started amidst hailing him with chants of “Sai Baba” as he alighted from an unmarked Toyota Sequoia SUV.
Buhari was closely followed by the security operatives as he entered the mosque and he hurriedly left the venue of the wedding ceremony, a few minutes later.
The former leader who beamed with smiles as he acknowledged the cheers from his admirers was ushered into the mosque by some security operatives who were also chauffeur driven into the mosque premises in a black Toyota Land Cruiser marked ‘PATASKUM.’ The security agents prevented people, especially the jubilant youths who were surging forward to touch and have handshakes with Buhari from reaching him.
The tumultuous welcome accorded Buhari, especially around the mosque premises almost marred the occasion, prompting some clerics to appeal to the youths for calm to allow them conclude the ceremony.
However, unlike in the past when Buhari would step aside at such an occasion to grant press interview, no sooner had the wedding was concluded than he sandwiched by eagle-eyed security aides who ushered him into his vehicle and spirited him away. One of Buhari’s aides told New Telegraph that the decision to beef up security around the former head of state was prompted by the recent attempt on his life in Kaduna.
Source: New Telegraph
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