COVID-19: Gunshots rock Presidential Villa as Aisha, Buhari’s aide clash

By Gbadamosi Oladimeji

There were gunshots at the Presidential Villa Abuja on Friday when First Lady, Dr. Aisha Buhari, members of her immediate family and her Aide-de-camp, Usman Shugaba attempted to force Sabiu Yusuf, a Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, into self-isolation.

The incident, which is regarded as a ‘security breach’ happened after the Yusuf returned from Lagos State where his wife just put the birth.

Reports have it that trouble started when the First Lady, Zahra, Halima and Yusuf, accompanied by some of her security aides led by the Aide-de-Camp, went to the residence of Sabiu, who is the President’s nephew, demanding that he (Sabiu) self-isolate for 14 days, so as not to endanger the first family.

It could be recalled that the First Lady had in a series of tweets yesterday confirmed the incident.

*On the issue of self-isolation and breaking of the interstate movement restriction rules, Aisha had warned “That COVID-19 is real and still very much around in our nation is not in doubt.
*Consequently, I call on all relevant Government Agencies to enforce the Quarantine Act signed by Mr. President and ensure no one is found violating this law and the NCDC guidelines especially on interstate travel without the necessary exemptions for movement of essentials,” she said.

“Anyone who does that should at the very least, be made to undergo a 14-day mandatory isolation, no matter who the person is. No one should be above the law and the Police command will do well to remember that.”

Sabiu was said to have escaped after gunshots were fired by the First Lady’s ADC in an attempt to apprehend the President’s aide.

He ran to the nearby residence of President Buhari’s cousin, Mamman Daura, where he reportedly spent the night.

However, the attention of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, was drawn to the incident on Friday that gunshots were fired in the precincts of the Presidential Villa.

Hence, the IGP ordered the arrest of the Aide-de-camp to the First Lady and all the security aides that accompanied her to Sabiu’s residence.

In her tweets, the First Lady had called on the Inspector General of Police to release her aides, saying, “Finally, I call on the IGP to release my assigned Staff who are still in the custody of the Police in order to avoid putting their lives in danger or exposure to Covid-19 while in their custody.”