The Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has approved the immediate dismissal of four aides over their alleged involvement in the physical assault of a serving councillor, following widespread public outrage triggered by a viral video of the incident.
The aides were disengaged after the conclusion of investigations into the attack on Abdulrahman Abubakar Sheriff, the councillor representing Shamaki Ward in Gombe Local Government Area.
The assault, which occurred days ago, gained national attention after disturbing videos circulated online showing the councillor being beaten and publicly humiliated in broad daylight by a driver attached to the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Abubakar Inuwa Kari.
In the footage, the councillor was seen seated helplessly on his motorcycle as the driver descended on him, punching and hitting him repeatedly. The victim could be heard pleading with his attacker to stop, while passersby also begged for calm.
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However, the assailant reportedly ignored all pleas and became more aggressive, threatening to attack anyone who attempted to intervene. At one point, the driver was heard speaking in Hausa, angrily questioning whether the councillor regarded himself as a “mate” of the Chief of Staff, suggesting that the assault was triggered by a perceived act of disrespect.
Despite continued appeals from the councillor and members of the public, the attacker persisted, repeatedly striking and humiliating the elected official without restraint.
Reacting to the incident, the governor’s spokesperson, Ismaila Uba Misilli, said in a statement issued on Tuesday that the decision to dismiss the aides was conveyed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, after the submission of a report by a special committee set up to investigate the matter.
According to the statement, the committee’s findings, which were further corroborated by security agencies, informed Governor Yahaya’s decision to sack the aides.
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Those dismissed are Adamu Abdullahi Danko, Senior Special Assistant II (Domestic); Garba Mohammed Mai Rago, Senior Special Assistant II (Political); Rabiu Sulaiman Abubakar, Senior Special Assistant II (Social Media); and Ali Ibrahim Baban Kaya, Senior Special Assistant II (Community Relations).
Governor Yahaya directed that the disengagement should take immediate effect and ordered the affected officers to hand over all government property in their possession to the appropriate authorities without delay.
Misilli added that the governor reiterated his administration’s “zero tolerance for violence, misconduct and abuse of office,” stressing that no official or aide would be shielded from consequences for actions that undermine the rule of law and public trust.