A fresh security controversy has emerged in Borno State following allegations that the Chairman of Guzamala Local Government Area, Hon. Umar Lawan Sheriff, fired a double-barrel shotgun during a confrontation at the residence of a former governor of the state.
According to information obtained by Zagazola Makama, the incident reportedly followed a disagreement at the residence and escalated after the Chairman allegedly arrived at the premises with a firearm.
A spent shotgun cartridge was reportedly recovered from the scene, while a video later circulated on social media showing a man displaying the cartridge and claiming it was evidence of the shooting.
Sources familiar with the incident said the disagreement had its roots in an earlier encounter involving one Sanusi Othman, who was reportedly sleeping at the residence.
According to the account, the Chairman allegedly made a remark questioning the identity of the man and whether he was involved in drug use.
Othman reportedly took exception to the comment and subsequently sent a WhatsApp message to the Chairman, warning him against associating his name with drugs.
A WhatsApp exchange dated September 3, reportedly obtained in connection with the matter, also contained a warning from Othman to Sheriff, ending with the words: “I’M NOT YOUR MATE.”
The disagreement allegedly escalated when the Chairman later returned to the residence in a vehicle.
An eyewitness claimed that Sheriff brought out a double-barrel firearm and discharged it into the air, triggering panic among people at the premises.
The witness further alleged that the firearm was subsequently directed towards Othman, accompanied by a threat to kill him.
Othman was reportedly able to escape the immediate danger as people at the residence moved away from the confrontation.
The alleged incident has generated concern because of the reported involvement of a firearm and the fact that the person at the centre of the allegation is a serving local government chairman.
For weeks, however, the matter reportedly remained largely outside public attention, with efforts allegedly made by associates, friends and lawyers to resolve the dispute privately.
Sources said individuals close to the Chairman approached the alleged victim and other parties, urging them against taking the matter to the media or security agencies.
The sources claimed that some of the intermediaries expressed concern that public exposure of the incident could have serious political consequences for the Chairman, including possible pressure for his removal from office.
They were also said to have appealed to the alleged victim to consider the number of people who reportedly depend on the Chairman and those who benefit from his support.
According to the accounts, the central message from the intermediaries was that the Chairman had made a mistake, regretted the incident and wanted the matter settled quietly.
However, the allegations have raised broader questions about how incidents involving firearms and public officials should be handled.
While private reconciliation may resolve personal disagreements, allegations involving the discharge of a firearm and a threat to human life require facts to be established by the appropriate authorities.
The issue is therefore not simply whether the Chairman and the alleged victim can settle their disagreement, but whether an offence occurred and, if so, whether anyone should be held responsible.
At the same time, the allegations remain allegations and should not be treated as proof of guilt.
If the Chairman did not fire the weapon or threaten the alleged victim, an impartial investigation would provide an opportunity for him to establish his account and clear his name.
Similarly, if the allegations are substantiated, the appropriate legal process should determine the consequences.
Security agencies could establish the facts by obtaining statements from the Chairman, the alleged victim and witnesses who were present at the scene.
The reported firearm should also be identified and, where appropriate, recovered for examination. The spent cartridge reportedly found at the scene could be preserved and subjected to forensic analysis.
Investigators could further examine the original video, WhatsApp exchanges and other digital communications that may help establish the sequence of events.
Given the political and security significance of Guzamala Local Government Area, the circumstances surrounding the incident may also warrant appropriate security assessment.
Call for Impartial Investigation
The Borno State Government may also wish to encourage the relevant security agencies to investigate the allegations transparently rather than allow the matter to remain within informal negotiations.
Such an investigation would not amount to a declaration of guilt against the Chairman. Rather, it would provide an avenue for all sides to present their accounts and allow evidence to determine what actually happened.
Public officials, like every other citizen, are entitled to due process and protection from false accusations. At the same time, public office should not prevent legitimate allegations of criminal conduct from being investigated.
The most important issue now is to establish the facts surrounding the reported firearm discharge, determine whether anyone was threatened or placed in danger, and ensure that the law is applied fairly to all parties.
Until such an investigation is conducted, the competing accounts surrounding the incident remain allegations requiring verification.
Zagazola Makama is a Counter-Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad Region.
Source:@ZagazolaMakama
