Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2019 elections has said security checks he was made to pass through when he returned from Dubai was made to intimidate him.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Atiku returned to Nigeria in a private jet on Sunday at about 1:30 am after an over two weeks vacation trip to Dubai.
Arriving at the airport in Abuja, a special security squad comprised of the Army, Police, Custom and Immigration officers carried out a thorough security check on the former Vice President and his aircraft.
“I arrived to Abuja this morning to a search by agents of the state, aimed at intimidating me and my staff. I am committed to building a Nigeria where no citizen is intimidated by agents of state who are paid to protect them,” he tweeted.
I arrived to Abuja this morning to a search by agents of the state, aimed at intimidating me and my staff.
I am committed to building a Nigeria where no citizen is intimidated by agents of state who are paid to protect them.
Together, #LetsGetNigeriaWorkingAgain.
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) November 11, 2018
During the search, video recording gadgets and other devices were used to capture the exercise but nothing implicating was found on the Adamawa-born politician.
However, supporters of the presidential candidate condemned the security check, describing it as harassment.
According to Ilemona Onoja, aide to Senate President Bukola Saraki, Atiku was harassed by the special security squad.
“Apparently, lies propaganda and intimidation are going to be fixtures in this election,” he tweeted.
@OfficialPDPNig presidential candidate @atiku was harassed & subjected to a search on arrival from Dubai earlier this afternoon by a special forces unit.
Apparently, lies propaganda & intimidation are going to be fixtures in this elections.
— 20.10.2020 (@I_Am_Ilemona) November 11, 2018
Also, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce condemned the security check.
“Nigeria is not a fascist state. We will not return to a jackboot dictatorship,” he tweeted.