JUST IN: Tears as Gunmen Reportedly Assassinate APC LGA Chairman in Kebbi, Details Emerge

• In a tragic incident that happened on Wednesday, October 2, suspected gunmen reportedly abducted and killed Bako Bala, the chairman of the APC in Suru local government area of Kebbi state
• The armed men kidnapped Bala in his hometown, shot him, and abandoned him in a pool of blood
• Bala was rushed to the hospital where he gave up the ghost, causing sorrow among his nuclear, extended, and political families

Legit.ng journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, has over 9 years of experience covering metro and governance in Nigeria.

Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state - Gunmen on Wednesday, October 2, allegedly abducted and killed the chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Suru local government area (LGA) of Kebbi state, Alhaji Bako Bala.

As reported by Vanguard on Thursday morning, October 3, Zaidu Bala, the special adviser to the Kebbi state governor on television and radio, disclosed that the assailants kidnapped Bala in his hometown, shot him, and abandoned him in a pool of blood.

Bala was reportedly rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, where he unfortunately died on Wednesday, October 2.

Bala's death caused tears and sorrow among his party members.

Efforts by Legit.ng to get official comments on the said incident from Nafiu Abubakar, the spokesperson of the police in Kebbi state, were unsuccessful.

Northwest Nigeria has seen a sharp rise in mass abductions and other violent crimes since late 2020 as the government struggles to maintain law and order.

In 2021, bandits made international headlines with a series of high-profile attacks on schools and colleges where they kidnapped hundreds of pupils. Most were released but some of those students are still being held.

Although President Bola Tinubu had stressed his government's desire to track down and eliminate criminal gangs which have been subjecting people to a reign of terror, including through the illegal imposition of taxes on communities under siege, the problem persists.

'Why banditry, terrorism persists' - Sani

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Shehu Sani, a former senator from Kaduna, blamed corruption for Nigeria's years-long battle with banditry and terrorism.

Sani stated that terrorists are “afraid” of attacking targets in neighbouring countries like Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, but the same cannot be said of Nigeria.

Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.