According to witnesses, the director went to the Government House at about 1:28pm in a Toyota Corolla salon car but attempted to avoid security checks by the security personnel manning the entrance.

"He came here while we were on duty. Nobody among us knows he is a director. Even if we knew, all cars going in and out of the Government House are subjected to security checks. Unfortunately, when we attempted to check that man's car, he zoomed off. We had no option than to open fire because we were mandated to maintain the security of the Government House," a security officer, who preferred to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to speak, said.

When it emerged that the man in the car was not a criminal but a director in the state's civil service, the car was already shattered by bullets. Mr Kiforo was then taken to the 44 Army Reference Hospital, few meters away from the Government House.

"The man has sustained various degrees of injuries from gunshots. Nobody can say whether he would survive or not but the man caused it for himself. As a director, he is aware that nobody is above security check before given access to the Government House.

"He is also aware that the present security situation in the country necessitated such security measures. We hope that he would survive the gunshots," our source said.

Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Ballah M. Nasarawa, confirmed the incident, saying in a statement: "A combined team of security personnel attached to Government House main gate, Kaduna intercepted a Toyota Corolla, Salon Car, maroon in colour, with Kaduna State Government official Registration number Kaduna, KD-06-A 04. The driver drove dangerously in a suspicious manner towards the Government House gate. The Security personnel stopped the lone occupant, instead of stopping; he forced himself through the exit gate and found his way into the Government House.

"The suspect was later identified as Pastor Isuwa Kiforo 'M' of No. 7 Abba Rimi Road, Narayi Kaduna, who is a Director, Finance and Administration, Ministry of Information, Kaduna State.

"The vehicle was thoroughly searched in my presence by our anti-bomb disposal experts and nothing incriminating was recovered," CP Nasarawa said.

However, Governor Patrick Yakowa's spokesperson, Reuben Buhari, was quoted earlier in the day by Reuters news agency as saying that the man was a bomber who tried to ram a car packed with explosives through the gates of the government house but was shot in the legs while trying to flee. He said medical workers were treating him in police custody.