Thirty-year-old Mohammed Jemilu has denied reports he was shot by the security detail of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), for allegedly breaching security protocol to ‘attack’ the Nigerian leader in Argungu, Kebbi State, on Thursday.
Addressing reporters in Birnin Kebbi on Friday, Jemilu, a graduate of Management Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, said his intention was to demonstrate his love for Buhari, not to harm him.
The Birnin Kebbi native said, “What happened on hursday was a result of the emotional love I have for President Buhari.
“I was moved by emotion to meet Mr President despite the security architecture. But I am sorry for the disturbances I caused. It was due to my emotional love for President Buhari, who is a man of integrity, honesty and righteousness.
“From 2015 till date, nobody has questioned him about his ability to manage both natural and human resources of this country, he has never squandered our commonwealth.
“I can tell you, even if I had died yesterday, I would be happier that I had achieved my ambition to meet Mr President one-on-one, that was what happened.
“I would like to use this opportunity to state that, none of the security agencies maltreated me. I am alive, I was not shot, the DSS (Department of State Services) never tortured me.
“When I was taken to the car, nobody tortured me. I was given food and I walked to this place by myself.”
Jemilu dismissed claims that he took the action because of poverty, saying although he was unemployed, he had built a house, married about seven months ago and had been struggling to survive.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who described the incident as mere breach of protocol, said Jemilu was one of Buhari and Governor Atiku Bagudu’s die-hard supporters.
Bagudu, who presented a book to Jemilu, said they would arrange for the young man to meet with the President for handshakes in Aso Rock.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party on Friday called for investigation into the incident.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement said the investigation was necessary because of the conflicting reports on the development.
Ologbondiyan said, “The PDP is however worried that the security lapses around Mr President, leading to the breach, further shows the poor handling of security issues by the Presidency, which also spectacles in the ineffective management of overall national security under the current administration.”
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