A trader identified as Haruna Muhammad Ali, popularly known as Harunfat, from Tudun Wada Shamaki Ward in Gombe State, has narrated how he was allegedly attacked and assaulted by thugs commonly known as Kalare boys for criticising the government of Alhaji Muhammad Yahaya.
A video showing the incident has circulated on social media.
The footage shows men assaulting a person and damaging property inside the shop.
Ali on Saturday told Saharareporters that the incident occurred on 13 December 2025.
He explained that the attack followed a media interview in which he criticised the state government’s policies.
“A few days before the incident, I was interviewed by a radio station where I criticized the Gombe State Government. After that interview, these boys came to my shop armed with knives and attacked me,” he said.
He added that the attackers mentioned the reason for targeting him during the assault.
“During the attack, they said I criticised their oga as heard in the video,” Ali said.
Ali further claimed that the attackers identified the person who sent them as Ishiyaku Ibrahim Special Adviser to the governor.
“They also claimed that the person who sent them is a Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Gombe State. Later, one of them called me on the phone and said they are not afraid of the Department of States Services (DSS) or the Police because they were sent by their oga,” he said.
Ali further told Saharareporters that the SA Ishiyaku Ibrahim, the governor who sent the thugs, gifted the boys N50,000 as a reward for Weldon’s job Weldon.
He further explained to Saharareporters that he was speaking out to clarify the events and seek justice.
“I am sharing this to clarify what truly happened and to seek justice. The name of their leader is Yusuf Babayo Ure. They have scattered all my properties in the shop. The Ishiyaku Ibrahim Special Adviser to the governor rewarded the thugs with N50,000 for what they did to me,” Ali said.
SaharaReporters had reported that Amnesty International condemned the brutal assault on a serving councillor in Gombe State, allegedly carried out by a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Inuwa Yahaya.
The Amnesty had described the incident as another disturbing sign of growing impunity and repression under the state government.
The attack occurred on Monday, December 15, at about 4:00pm along Science 2 Road, Federal Lowcost area of Gombe.
The victim, Abdulrahman Abubakar Sherif, a councillor representing Shamaki Ward, was reportedly assaulted after being accused of criticising the Chief of Staff to the Governor.
In a statement, Amnesty International said the incident reflects a wider pattern of intolerance for dissent and the use of violence by government officials and their agents to silence critics.
