Amaechi Recounts Alleged Death Threat During Buhari’s 2014 Campaign in Kano

African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi has recounted how a director of the State Security Service (SSS) in Kano State allegedly warned him to leave the state immediately during a campaign trip for former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2014.

Amaechi disclosed this during an interview with News Central, according to Naija News, explaining that he had travelled to Kano to persuade the state’s then governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to support Buhari’s presidential ambition ahead of the 2015 general election.

He said the situation became tense when he attempted to leave Kano in a private jet but was stopped by airport officials, who reportedly told him that private jet movements were restricted at the time.

According to Amaechi, efforts to secure tickets for a commercial flight also proved unsuccessful, leaving him and members of his team stranded in the state.

He said the situation changed when the Kano State Director of the SSS arrived at the airport and advised him to leave immediately.

Amaechi explained that the security official recognised him because he had previously served as an SSS director in Rivers State before being transferred to Kano.

Recounting the encounter, Amaechi said the official warned him that his safety could not be guaranteed if he remained in the state.

“The Director of SSS drove in. What they forgot is that he was Director of SSS in Rivers State before he was posted to Kano. He saluted me and said, ‘Sir, you must leave Kano now, if you don’t I can’t guarantee your safety,’” he said.

Amaechi said he and his team subsequently travelled by road to Abuja.

He added that after arriving in the Federal Capital Territory, they switched on their phones and he was informed that he might have been killed had he remained in Kano.

“When we got to Abuja, we switched on our phones and that is when I was told if I hadn’t left I would have died,” he said.

Amaechi’s account concerns an incident he said occurred during political activities ahead of the 2015 presidential election.