A former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Koko/Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Alhaji Muhammadu Mai Barga Besse, has reportedly died while being held by bandits.
His death comes weeks after a disturbing video surfaced online showing him and a prominent Islamic cleric being humiliated by armed captors in the Birnin Gwari forest, one of the most notorious hideouts for criminal gangs operating across northern Nigeria.
Besse was abducted alongside a cleric of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah wa Ikamatis-Sunnah (JIBWIS), Alhaji Muhammad Maibarga, during an attack that sparked concern among residents and political leaders in Kebbi State.
Earlier this month, the Kebbi State Police Command confirmed that Alhaji Maibarga had died in captivity.
The latest development was disclosed by security and conflict analyst Bakatsine in a statement shared on his X account on Tuesday.
According to him, Besse has now also been confirmed dead, meaning both men seen in the viral captivity videos lost their lives before regaining freedom.
“DEVASTATING UPDATE: Alhaji Muhammadu Mai Barga Besse, the immediate former APC Chairman of Koko/Besse LGA in Kebbi State, has now also been confirmed dead in captivity.
“This means both men seen in the videos released from the Birnin Gwari forest have lost their lives without ever reuniting with their families after their abduction,” he wrote.
Bakatsine described the incident as another painful example of the security challenges facing many communities across northern Nigeria.
“What began as disturbing footage of humiliation has ended in the worst possible tragedy. Two lives gone, two families shattered and more painful questions about the security crisis facing communities across northern Nigeria,” he added.
The deaths of the two abducted men have renewed concerns over the growing insecurity across several parts of the North-West, where communities continue to grapple with kidnappings, killings and attacks carried out by heavily armed criminal groups.
Residents and stakeholders have repeatedly called on security agencies to intensify operations against bandit networks and improve protection for vulnerable communities affected by the crisis.
