The Chairman of Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, Umar Lawan Sheriff, has been accused of firing a double-barrel shotgun and threatening to kill a man at the residence of a former governor of the state.
The allegations were contained in a report by security analyst Zagazola Makama, which said a spent shotgun cartridge was recovered from the scene following the reported confrontation.
According to the report, the incident followed a disagreement involving the chairman and a man identified as Sanusi Othman, who was reportedly staying at the residence.
Makama said the disagreement allegedly started after Sheriff questioned the presence of Othman at the house and made a comment linking him to drug use.
Othman was subsequently said to have sent the chairman a WhatsApp message objecting to the comment and warning him against associating him with drugs.
The report also referenced a WhatsApp exchange dated September 3 in which Othman allegedly warned the chairman, ending the message with the words, “I’M NOT YOUR MATE.”
An eyewitness was quoted as saying that Sheriff later arrived at the residence in a vehicle, brought out a double-barrel firearm and fired a shot into the air.
The incident reportedly caused people at the residence to flee, while the chairman was further accused of turning the firearm towards Othman and threatening to kill him.
Othman was said to have escaped as people at the scene attempted to move away from the confrontation.
A video subsequently circulated online showing a man displaying what was described as a spent red shotgun cartridge allegedly recovered from the scene.
In the video, the man claimed that he and others had been shot at and said the cartridge was evidence of the incident.
The report said the matter had not been publicly reported for several weeks, with sources alleging that people close to the chairman had approached the parties involved in an attempt to settle the matter privately.
According to the sources, the intermediaries allegedly appealed to Othman and others not to take the matter to the media or security agencies, citing possible consequences for the chairman.
They were also said to have appealed for consideration of people allegedly dependent on the chairman and described the incident as a mistake which the chairman regretted.
However, the allegations have not been independently established, and it remains unclear whether a formal complaint has been lodged with the police or any other security agency.
The reported recovery of a spent cartridge, the alleged WhatsApp exchanges and the video circulating online could form part of evidence requiring verification if authorities formally investigate the matter.
An independent investigation would be required to establish whether a firearm was discharged, who discharged it, the circumstances surrounding the alleged confrontation and whether any criminal offence was committed.
Attempts to independently verify the allegations with the Guzamala council chairman and relevant authorities were not included in the report.
The incident has also raised concerns because it allegedly involves a serving local government chairman and the use of a firearm in a confrontation involving a civilian.
For now, the allegations remain claims attributed to eyewitnesses and sources cited in the report and should not be treated as established facts without an independent investigation.
