Borno council chairman accused of shooting at man

Hon. Umar Lawan Sheriff, the chairman of Guzamala Local Government Area in Borno State, faces accusations of firing a double-barreled gun and threatening to kill a man at a former state governor's residence. This incident followed a disagreement involving Sheriff and Sanusi Othman, who was reportedly sleeping at the residence. According to reports, Sheriff allegedly said, "Who is that man sleeping? I hope he doesn’t take drugs." Othman responded with a warning via WhatsApp, stating, "I’m not your mate."

An eyewitness stated that Sheriff returned to the residence in his car, retrieved a double-barreled firearm, and fired into the air, causing panic among the residents. The alleged victim managed to escape, while people around the scene moved away from the confrontation. A video later shared on social media allegedly showed a spent shotgun cartridge, which the man claimed was evidence of the attempted assassination attempt.

Despite the incident remaining relatively unnoticed for nearly three weeks, intermediaries close to Sheriff reportedly sought a private resolution. They urged the alleged victim and others involved not to publicize the matter, fearing potential consequences including the loss of Sheriff's position. The sources claim that Sheriff expressed regret for his actions, hoping for a private resolution. However, the use of a firearm and the threat of violence remain matters for authorities to investigate.