reports that Bwala, in an interview on Symfoni TV on Saturday, said he once believed Tinubu might politically target him over his past criticisms during his time in the opposition.

He explained that he had even considered leaving Nigeria to pursue his PhD, thinking he could face retaliation if Tinubu assumed power.

According to him, rather than any form of political revenge, Tinubu later reached out to him and invited him to serve in his administration.

Bwala said, “I feared Tinubu would hunt me down. Leadership dynamics can be complex, I must be honest.”

He added that many of those who had criticised Tinubu, including himself, expected backlash after the election outcome.

He said, “When I was in the opposition, I thought if President Tinubu came to power, he would go after me. That was when I decided to leave and focus on my PhD and stay out of Nigeria’s political space.”

Bwala noted that instead of hostility, the president extended an invitation for him to join the government.

He also highlighted Tinubu’s leadership approach, describing it as one that seeks engagement rather than retaliation against critics.

Meanwhile, Bwala recently revealed that President Tinubu made attempts to reach out to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar after the 2023 presidential election.

He claimed Tinubu sent emissaries to Atiku as part of efforts to establish communication, but the delegation was reportedly denied access to the former presidential candidate’s residence.

According to reports, the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday as residents were fleeing attacks by armed men operating in the area.

Witnesses said at least 12 people died in a single household, while several others affected were said to be residents of Kusasu who had escaped from terrorist threats.

A local resident, Auta Awododo, disclosed that the airstrike happened around 5 a.m., adding that one of the victims was his cousin’s son.

Residents said fear spread across the area after armed men riding motorcycles reportedly moved through the community while being pursued by military aircraft.

According to eyewitness accounts, the first bomb reportedly landed near the river in Kusasu, while a second strike hit Guradnayi.

As of the time of reporting, the Nigerian Air Force had not released an official statement regarding the incident, and enquiries about the reported civilian casualties had yet to receive a response.

The incident has intensified concerns among residents over military operations in Shiroro, a region frequently affected by attacks from armed groups.

Locals also alleged that previous airstrikes in the area had similarly resulted in civilian casualties, with concerns that such incidents were not thoroughly investigated.

Security sources reportedly confirmed that the armed group being tracked had moved from Kusasu into neighbouring Munya Local Government Area and remained active around Kabula near Kuchi.

Although there were no immediate confirmed reports of fresh abductions or killings, sources said the armed men had allegedly rustled cattle from several communities in Munya.

The reported airstrike has further heightened fear among residents of Shiroro and surrounding communities, many of whom have already been displaced by recurring insecurity.

Community members have called on military authorities to investigate the incident, identify those affected, and clarify the circumstances that led to the reported civilian deaths.

They also urged stronger coordination in security operations to ensure that efforts to combat armed groups do not result in further civilian casualties.