.Former prime minister’s grandson joins Bauchi South senatorial race
By Rita Michael
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested nine suspected political thugs popularly known as “Sarasuka”.
The Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) of the state command, DSP Kamal Datti Abubakar, said that the suspects were arrested in connection with cases of criminal conspiracy, thuggery and mischief.
The suspects, according to the police spokesman, include Hamza Abdullahi aka Mando “m” 23yrs (gang leader), Tijjani Dahiru “m” 27yrs , Abba Abdullahi aka Dogon Yaro “m” 20yrs, Muslim Idris “m” 20yrs, Ibrahim Musa “m” 20yrs , Bashir Abubakar “m” 25yrs; Abdulrahman Mohammed “m” 22yrs; Munkaila Mohammed “m” 22yrs; Ahmed Adam “m” 20yrs; and Umar Hassan aka Silli “m” 23 years.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects during the operation, according to Abubakar, include, five cutlasses, one long knife, seven packets of Tramadol capsules 225mg and assorted charms.
He said that the case was under investigation after which the suspects would be charged to court as soon as possible.
“While the Command reiterates its commitment to protection of lives and property in the state, it calls on members of the general public to cooperate and support the Police in the ongoing operation by giving useful information to ensure total crackdown on Political thugs and other forms of thuggery in the State,” he warned.
Meanwhile, the grandson of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the former Prime Minister of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Billy Tafawa, has expressed determination to contest for the bye-election into Bauchi South Senatorial District.
The Bauchi South senatorial seat became vacant following the death of the former senator representing the constituency, Senator Ali Wakili.
Billy, who is a consultant to African Union and Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS), said in Bauchi that he would contest for the Bauchi South Senate seat to enable him follow the footsteps of his grandfather to bring dividends of democracy to the people of Bauchi South.
He commended the late Senator Ali Wakili and speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, for doing what is right to the electorates and Nigerians.
Billy pledged to consolidate on the legacies of the late Senator Wakili and Dogara as well as support President Muhammadu Buhari’s programmes and policies that would bring the desired change that would make the country a better place.
He said that he decided to contest after wide consultations with majority of stakeholders in all the seven local government areas of the Bauchi South Senatorial District that include Alkaleri, Kirfi, Bauchi, Toro, Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro.
Billy said, “Even the late Senator Wakili who happened to be my inlaw always encouraged me to come out and contest of the seat even before he died, and now that he has gone, I will contest and consolidate on his legacies.”
Over 20 aspirants have declared interest to contest for the Bauchi South Senatorial seat which among them are the former Bauchi State Governor Mallam Isa Yuguda, the only woman in Bauchi State House of Assembly, Hon Maryam Bagel, among others.