A former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Koko/Besse local government area in Kebbi State, Alhaji Muhammadu Besse, who was abducted early June by terrorists, has reportedly died in captivity.
A report in the Daily Post said the news of his death was announced on Tuesday in a post on X by Bakatsine, a journalist who reports on conflict and insecurity in the North-West region.
It would be recalled that a video surfaced recently showing the former APC chairman and his associate being humiliated by bandits in the Birnin Gwari forest.
Video showing the former APC Chairman of Koko/Besse Local Government Area in Kebbi State and his associate in captivity inside the Birnin Gwari forest.
Bakatsine wrote: “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.
“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.
“May Almighty Allah forgive them, grant them Aljannatul Firdaus and comfort their loved ones.”
Meanwhile, terrorists also invaded the house of the APC chairman in Yauri local government area of Kebbi State, Alhaji Yusuf Alhassan, in the early hours of yesterday (Monday) and abducted his wife and son.
A resident of the area who confirmed the incident to journalists in Birnin Kebbi said the incident occurred at the chairman’s house at the Low-Cost area in Yauri.
The source said the abductors whisked the chairman’s wife and his son to an unknown destination in the forest.
The spokesperson of the Kebbi State Police Command, SP Bashir Usman, who was contacted, confirmed the incident, but added that security personnel had been dispatched to the area to track down the abductors.
Efforts to speak with the APC chairman failed, as all his phone lines were switched off.