Tragedy has struck Kebbi State as Alhaji Muhammadu Mai Barga Besse, immediate past Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Koko/Besse Local Government Area, has been confirmed dead while in the custody of armed bandits.
His death comes weeks after he and an associate, Alhaji Yahaya Bili (also referred to in some reports as a prominent Islamic cleric linked to JIBWIS/Izalah), were abducted by suspected Fulani bandits.
According to a widely circulated social media post and local reports, both men lost their lives in captivity without reuniting with their families.
The development was confirmed following the release of distressing videos by the captors showing the elderly victims in poor health.
The abduction of Alhaji Mai Barga Besse drew widespread attention due to its timing. He had recently delivered a campaign speech praising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration on security, claiming significant improvements in the country. Shortly afterwards, he was kidnapped, an incident many Nigerians described as deeply ironic.
The victims were held in the notorious Birnin Gwari forest, a known hideout for bandits operating across Kaduna and neighbouring states.
Heartbreaking Conditions in CaptivityIn videos released by the bandits, the two elderly men were seen complaining bitterly about the denial of their daily medications. Sources said the captors stopped providing necessary drugs, allegedly feeding them mainly bread and water, a situation that rapidly deteriorated their health given their age and pre-existing medical conditions.
Families struggled to meet the huge ransom demands reportedly running into hundreds of millions of naira.
The Kebbi State Police Command had earlier confirmed the death of one of the victims (the cleric) around June 10, 2026. The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, acknowledged reports of the victims’ deteriorating condition in captivity.
Alhaji Muhammadu Mai Barga Besse’s death was confirmed more recently, sparking fresh outrage and condolences across the state. Community members performed Salatul Gha’ib (funeral prayers in absentia) as the bodies are yet to be recovered.
The incident has once again thrown the persistent challenge of banditry, kidnapping, and insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria into sharp focus.
