Controversy has continued to trail the reported disappearance of an All Progressives Congress (APC) social media influencer, Bashir Isah Gusau, in Zamfara State, with the opposition party accusing the state government of complicity, an allegation firmly denied by the state government.

Bashir Isah Gusau was reportedly picked up on Wednesday night at a football viewing centre in the Sabon Gari area of Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.

In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris Gusau, the Zamfara State chapter of the APC alleged that the influencer was illegally arrested by security personnel attached to the Government House.

According to the APC, Gusau was taken from the viewing centre around 10 p.m. by four men who identified themselves as security operatives attached to the Government House. The men reportedly used a vehicle with a covered number plate.

The party claimed that when other viewers attempted to intervene, the operatives allegedly fired shots into the air to disperse the crowd before forcing Gusau into their vehicle and driving off to an unknown destination.

The APC further alleged that efforts to locate Gusau at police stations in the state capital were unsuccessful and that his phone lines have remained switched off since the incident.

Describing the development as a misuse of state power, the APC accused the Dauda Lawal-led administration of deploying security operatives to intimidate political opponents.

The party said it has alerted its legal team and called on the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the DSS to investigate the matter.

The APC also appealed to its members to remain calm, assuring them that party leaders are handling the situation.

However, the Zamfara State Government has denied the allegation.

Reacting, the Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, described the accusation as false, insisting that Governor Lawal has never been associated with harassment or intimidation of individuals.

He said the government has no knowledge of the alleged arrest, adding that no evidence has been provided to suggest that Gusau was taken to the Government House.

Also reacting, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Broadcast Media, Mustapha Jafaru Kaura, said the governor is a man of peace and dismissed the claim as untrue.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the command was not aware of any reported abduction in the state capital.

He added that there was also no report of a bandit-related attack linked to the incident and promised to make further enquiries and provide updates. (Channels TV)