From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
In what appears to be a politically motivated attack, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Umar Basheer Danalbarka, was assaulted by suspected thugs in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, on Thursday evening.
Danalbarka is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital following the violent incident.
An eyewitness told our reporter that the attack occurred at a local car wash where Danalbarka was standing when the assailants, suspected to be political thugs, suddenly arrived and launched a coordinated assault on him.
“The attackers used sticks and canes, beating Danalbarka mercilessly and dragging him to the ground,” the eyewitness recounted.
“We were sitting, waiting for our cars to be washed, when suddenly some men arrived and started beating him. He shouted for help and tried to escape, but they were too many. They dragged him down and continued beating him.
He was bleeding from the mouth and nose. Some passersby and bystanders intervened, and the thugs quickly fled the scene in the same vehicle they came in,” the witness added.
Speaking from his hospital bed, Danalbarka alleged that the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Ambassador Salisu Seeker, orchestrated the attack due to political differences.
“The SSA, along with his thugs, assaulted me while I was sitting peacefully. He later went to his car, brought out a weapon, and threatened to kill me—all because of our political differences. I did nothing to provoke him,” he claimed.
Despite his injuries, Danalbarka vowed to seek justice.
“I have credible evidence and witnesses to prove what happened. God willing, I will explore all legal avenues available. No one is above the law, and I refuse to be intimidated into silence,” he said.
The political rift reportedly began after Danalbarka refuted claims by supporters of the Jigawa State Government that it sponsored the Greater Dutse Water Project, asserting instead that the project was fully funded by the Federal Government.
He also criticized the ₦1 billion solar streetlight project executed by the state government, claiming that it was destroyed within three months by a minor storm due to the alleged use of substandard materials.
Efforts to reach Ambassador Salisu Seeker for comment were unsuccessful, as multiple calls to his phone went unanswered. However, in a text message response to inquiries, the SSA simply stated, “I didn’t know.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Jigawa State, SP Lawal Shi’isu Adamu, said he was unaware of the incident.
“I’m not aware. Maybe the case has not been reported to the police. I’m just hearing about it from you now,” he said.