Kebbi State deputy governor survives fierce gunbattle between his security detail and armed bandits

KEBBI State's deputy governor Samaila Yombe Dabai narrowly survived being killed yesterday after armed bandits opened fire on his convoy while he was visiting Kanya in Dangu Wasagu Local Government Area of the state.

Earlier this week, bandits killed 63 vigilantes in Kebbi State  and in a sure sign that the banditry is now getting out of hand, these hoodlums opened fire n the deputy governor who had gone to visit some of the affected areas. Danko Wasagu local government area shares boundaries with Sakaba, both of them being part of the Zuru Emirate in Kebbi State.

President Muhammadu Buhari reacted to the attack saying he was saddened by it and called for more proactive efforts from security agents. Deputy governor Dabai, said he was in Kanya village when the bandits struck.

Labaran Magaji, a native of Danko Wasagu, added: “They overpowered the security agents present because they fought from 5pm to 8pm but the deputy governor was miraculously saved while his security details were trying to repel the attack. If not because of the soldiers that came, the bandits would have overrun the village and killed the deputy governor.”

He added that after the bandits left, more soldiers arrived to chase them while others evacuated the dead security agents. According to Mr Magaji, 13 soldiers and six police officers attached to the deputy governor’s convoy were killed during the attack.

Mr Magaji said: “I know one inspector. He was attached to the deputy governor’s convoy and I saw his dead body yesterday.”

Rabiu Kamba, the special adviser to the Kebbi State governor on security matters, confirmed the incident. He added that the bandits were reportedly robbing shops and rustling cattle in the surrounding villages in Danko/Wasagu, including Kanya.

Apparently, the deputy governor, who was travelling with military personnel, tried to intervene and help the villagers and in the process a fierce gun battle ensued. During the fire fight, the security personnel managed to whisk the deputy governor away from the area without him sustaining any injury.