Northern Youths Accuse Ex-AGF Abubakar Malami of Inciting Political Violence in Kebbi
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A northern youth coalition has accused former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, of fueling politically motivated violence in Kebbi State, raising concerns over rising insecurity in the region.
At a press briefing in Kaduna on Thursday, Muhammad Imam, Director of Media and Public Affairs of the Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders Discussion Forum, said Kebbi, once known as one of the most peaceful states in northern Nigeria, was now sliding into instability.
Imam alleged that Malami’s recent visit to Kebbi was marked by the presence of armed youths who accompanied him, sparking violent clashes that left several people injured and property destroyed. This, he argued, contradicted Malami’s claim that he was only in the state for a condolence visit.
“Footage circulating online clearly shows armed youths moving with him through town, escalating tensions and triggering violence,” Imam stated.
The youth group further accused Malami of mobilising political supporters even though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to officially declare the start of election campaigns.
Warning that the use of violence as a political tool is spreading in the north, the group urged security agencies to act swiftly. Imam criticised what he described as selective enforcement of law and order, noting that unlike Kaduna, where security forces responded quickly to similar threats, Kebbi authorities had failed to act.
The forum called on the Department of State Services (DSS), the police, civil society, and the media to intervene and closely monitor the situation, cautioning that silence could embolden political actors and turn Kebbi into a new hotspot for political violence.
