Former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, narrowly escaped a mob attack on Tuesday while visiting the palace of the District Head of Dutsi in Dutsi town, Katsina State.
Sirika, who holds the traditional title of Marusan Katsina and serves as the district head of Shargalle in Dutsi Local Government Area, was at the palace on a condolence visit when the incident occurred.
Videos circulating online and shared by Katsina City News showed chaotic scenes, with an angry crowd gathering both inside and around the palace. One clip captured a man being forcefully dragged out amid loud shouts, while another showed Sirika being quickly escorted into a Honda vehicle to prevent escalation into violence.
SaharaReporters gathered that the timely intervention of aides and security operatives helped avert what could have turned into a serious assault on the former minister. The exact reason for the crowd’s anger remained unclear at the time of reporting.
Sirika was appointed Marusan Katsina and district head of Shargalle in August 2025, alongside Umar, son of Governor Dikko Radda, and four others, according to a statement issued by Bello Ifo, Secretary to the Katsina Emirate Council.
The incident underscores ongoing tensions surrounding local traditional appointments and the heightened security measures for prominent figures in Katsina State.
