•Buhari, others mourn
Former Special Adviser, Political to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, has been shot dead at Umueze-Obiangwu community in Owerri, Imo State, by unknown gunmen.
Gulak, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was on his way to Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri on Sunday, May 30, 2021, to board a flight when he was intercepted and shot at close range.
He was also a former Hon. Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, and former Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bala Elkana confirmed the murder in a statement on Sunday.
According to Elkana, in the statement entitled ‘Murder of Ahmed Gulak By Armed Bandits’, a Toyota Camry cab carrying the deceased and two others, on their way to Sam Mbakwe Airport to catch a flight, was intercepted and attacked by the armed men at about 7:20am.
“Six armed bandits who rode in a Toyota Sienna vehicle intercepted, identified and shot at Ahmed Gulak at around Umueze Obiangwu in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area, close to the Airport.
“The Commissioner of Police Imo, Abutu Yaro, has directed a discreet investigation into the matter, as tactical and special forces have been deployed to cordon the area and arrest perpetrators,” Elkana said.
The PPRO however pointed out that Gulak did not inform the police or other security agencies while leaving his room at Protea Hotel, in view of the fragile security situation in the South East generally and the state in particular.
He said that the ex-aide went without any security escorts, while the cab driver took an irregular route to the airport.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed outrage and sadness over Gulak’s murder.
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media and Publicity), Garba Shehu, said that the president found what he called “the heinous murder of Adamawa politician, Ahmed Gulak, in Owerri, Imo State, by yet-to-be-identified gunmen,” as “disgusting.”
Further in his reaction, the President said: “I’m repulsed by such premeditated and gruesome murder of Gulak by evil people who are determined to undermine the peace, unity and territorial integrity of our country.
“Let me warn however that nobody or group of people engaging in such despicable acts should expect to go free. We will deploy all resources at our disposal to ensure that such callous and criminal elements are brought to justice.”
President Buhari also condoled with the family of the deceased, the people and government of Adamawa State, as well as his friends and associates all over the country.
Also, there was suspension of public hearing In Imo by the House of Representatives’ special committee on constitution review.
The zonal public hearing, which was scheduled to take place in Owerri, was suspended until further notice.
The zonal centre for hearing in Owerri include Imo and Abia states, and slated for Tuesday, June 1 and Wednesday, June 2, before the incident.
The suspension was made known through a statement on Sunday by the Chairman, House Special Committee on Constitution Review, and the Deputy Speaker of the House, Ahmed Idris Wuse.
It was learnt that the hold on the public hearing could not be unconnected with the killing of Gulak in the state.
Gulak was buried at night according to Islamic rites at Central Mosque, Abuja.
