President Muhammadu Buhari advised a visiting delegation who paid homage to him on Friday that only God protects after he narrowly escaped a mob that besieged the praying ground where he offered Sallah prayers in Abuja.
Narrating the experience, Buhari said “During and after the prayers, I was bombarded by youths, who almost overwhelmed my security,” he said. “All the policemen that were deployed and soldiers since 6am before I came out two hours later in the rain, could not protect.
“I had to hold tight to my gown to get to my car; I was advised to enter the car from the ADC’s side and I refused; I went across trying to hold my hand to the wild youth who wanted to see me.
“This shows that, it is only God that protects leaders. In a situation like this, anybody with a knife can get access and do a lot of damage.
Recalling the assassination attempt on former president Ronald Reagan of the United States during his first year in office, Buhari said: “only God protects. I hope God will continue to protect us.