Hunkuyi, Ramalan, Others Escape Deadly Attack
BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – As drumbeats for 2019 general elections gather momentum in Kaduna State, Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, representing Kaduna North Senatorial Zone in the Nigerian Senate and Chairman of the popular Liberty Television and Radio, Alhaji Tijjani Ramalan, on Sunday escaped assassination in Kaduna
Reports said both men, considered among front-line politicians and stakeholders re-aligning forces against embattled Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, were fortunate to getaway unhurt.
Eyewitness accounts said the incident took place around 3:30pm at the end of a meeting organised for All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders held at the NUT Conference Hotel, Mogadishu layout, Yan Doya in Kaduna.
Sources said the assassins, who were also part of the meeting, broke a fire extinguisher, thereby causing a stir and creating panic among those at the event.
The source said “amidst confusion created by that loud bang, the assassins emerged from the crowd, wielding axes, guns and other dangerous weapons”, even as they charged towards the podium where Hunkuyi, Ramalan and other prominent APC top shots were seated for the programme.”
“The attackers were no fewer than 1o persons, and it was very clear they were after the lives of top APC top politicians. There were several shots at the podium, but Hunkuyi and Ramalan escaped,” one of the eyewitnesses said
It was further gathered that though the vehicle belonging to Alhaji Ramalan was bullet-ridden from the attack, top members of the APC at the meeting were lucky to have escaped unhurt.
Our source said that several people sustained injuries from the resultant commotion, but no major casualties were recorded.
According to Forefront checks, the police are yet to issue a formal statement on the attack. However, insiders hinted that one person linked to the attack has been arrested and is assisting the security agency in hunting down other accomplices.
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