The Borno State Governor’s Media Unit has debunked reports on some online media platforms alleging that one of the son’s of the Governor Babagana Zulum has been arrested and sentenced to prison for the murder of some Indian citizens.
This was according to a statement signed and issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Abdurrahman Ahmed Bundi, on Wednesday night.
The statement read, “Attention of the Borno State Governor’s Media Unit has been drawn to rumours circulating that the son of the Borno State Governor has been arrested for the alleged murder of some Indian citizens.
“This misinformation was published in an online blog, Nairaland, titled “Son of Borno State Governor Murders Someone In India—Politics.” The blog claimed that the Governor also travelled to India, attempting to use diplomatic status to resolve the matter.
“It is on record that Governor Babagana Zulum was on a one-month vacation in Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Hajj and later travelled to Egypt to attend the annual ASUWAN forum conference in Cairo.
“The Media Unit would like to clarify and set the record straight that Nairaland and other online blogs have mischievously spread defamatory content without any speck of truth.
“We hereby warned Nairaland and all those who have spread the false information to pull down this misinformation from its website and platforms within the next 24 hours and offer an unreserved apology to Governor Zulum, his son, and the entire family, or risk legal action. The Governor shall also not hesitate to take legal action against any media outlet that continues to publicise this defamatory information on its platform.
“We would like to inform the public that none of Governor’s Zulum’s son was either arrested or charged with any crime, or involved in any unlawful activities anywhere.
“We urge the public to exercise caution when consuming and sharing information, particularly when it comes from unverified sources and blogs instead of credible media outlets.
“We enjoin all media organisations to engage in responsible journalism of truth and factual verification while recognising the potential harm and psychological trauma the spread of false information might have caused to the Governor’s family.”
Umar Zulum Umara, son of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State, a student at a university in New Delhi, reportedly smashed a bottle of alcoholic drink on the Chinese man who showed interest in the same lady as the governor’s son.
He had allegedly been arrested for killing a Chinese national during a fight over a woman at a nightclub in India.
According to SaharaReporters, the incident happened two weeks ago, while Governor Zulum alongside the governors of Adamawa and Yobe states were in Pakistan, attending a post insurgency workshop.
A source close to the family told SaharaReporters that it was history repeating itself, as according to him, the governor had while at the same age as his son hit a man to death during a fight.
The source who spoke on condition of anonymity further disclosed that the reckless lifestyle of the members of the governor’s family is in public domain in Borno State.
“Make no mistake, Governor Zulum’s son is the Nigerian governor’s son you heard about who killed someone in India.
“What happened was that the boy engaged a Chinese national in a fight over a lady at a night club in India and Zulum’s son smashed a bottle on his head and it led to his death.
“He was arrested by the police. This happened at a time the governor alongside Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa and Governor Mai Buni of Yobe were in Pakistan some two weeks ago.
“Zulum was billed to travel to the United States after the Pakistani engagement, but he abruptly abandoned the trip and flew to India after receiving news of the tragic incident.
“There in India, he made frantic efforts to resolve the matter with the Chinese parents of the deceased person; they actually obliged him but the Indian authorities insisted that the murder was a crime against the Indian State and not the deceased or even his parents.
“He returned home to Nigeria to garner support and was able to enlist the current agriculture minister, Abubakar Kyari; together, they tried to convince the Indian embassy to wade into the matter but to no avail.
“Based on the information available to us, his son is currently in detention and would be prosecuted in due course.
“The intriguing part of the story is that history has just repeated itself. Yes! Because Governor Zulum had a similar experience as a young lad, when he was about the same age as his son.
“Don’t also forget, just a few months before the tragic incident, the same biy was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission operatives at the Maiduguri International Airport with excess hard currency.”
“But the matter was later watered down, with claims that he was contracted to supply vehicles,” the source added.
When contacted, one of Zulum’s media aides simply replied, “I don’t know about this matter but when I get any information about it, I will relay same to you. However, don’t quote me please!”