Aso Rock Crisis: President Buhari Sacks 20 Bodyguards

President Muhammadu Buhari has taken steps to sanction security officers after the recent shooting incident involving his wife, Aisha Buhari, and his nephew, Sabiu Yusuf ‘Tunde’, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

It was gathered that Buhari had approved the redeployment of about 20 presidential bodyguards after the clash.

The sacked aides who are expected to be replaced immediately by new ones were withdrawn from the Presidential Villa over their failure to manage the situation, which led to the firing of gunshots within the Villa penultimate Thursday.

Naija News gathered that the bodyguards were drawn from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

President Buhari, who was reportedly angry and embarrassed by the Aso Villa shooting, ordered a probe into the incident.

Speaking to The Punch on Thursday, a source disclosed that the bodyguards were fired by Buhari on Wednesday after a review of the incident, as well as the breach of Presidential security, which occurred in Kebbi, Kebbi State, on March 13, 2020.

Recall that in March, Buhari was in Kebbi to declare open the Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival, when an intruder, identified as Mohamed Gundarre, rushed towards him.

Later giving reasons for approaching the President, Gundarre said he simply wished to shake hands with Buhari.

“About 20 bodyguards were posted out of the Villa on Wednesday for the incident involving the security aides to the President’s wife and other past issues,” the source said.

“These include the incident in Kebbi, when someone attempted to breach the Presidential security while the President was taking photographs with the Kebbi State Governor and other dignitaries.”

Naija News reports that gunshots were heard in the Aso Rock Villa on Thursday night following a clash between the First lady and Sabiu Yusuf.

The issue started when Aisha and three of her children –Zahra, Halima and Yusuf – as well as some of her security aides, led by her Aide-de-Camp, CSP Usman Shugaba; and the escort commander, DSP Sheriff Kazeem, stormed the residence of a nephew and Personal Assistant to the President, Sabiu Yusuf, at House 8 by the Pilot Gate of the Presidential Villa, at night and tried to force Yusuf into self-isolation after he returned from Lagos state, where his wife had a baby.

It was gathered that Sabiu escaped after gunshots were allegedly fired by the First Lady’s ADC in an attempt to apprehend the President’s aide.

He, however, ran into a nearby house of President Buhari’s cousin, Mamman Daura, where he reportedly spent the night.

The incident was reported to the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who then ordered the arrest of the Aide-de-camp to the First Lady and all the security aides that accompanied her to Sabiu’s residence.

The security operatives were detained on Friday but were released on Monday and redeployed from the Villa.

Aisha Buhari’s aide has since denied reports that the shots were fired by the First Lady’s ADC.