Nigerian Governor denies Buhari’s Minister’s allegations of thuggery, arms smuggling
Nigerian Governor denies Buhari’s Minister’s allegations of thuggery, arms smuggling
Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has denied a petition allegedly authored by former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, which accuses him of orchestrating a dangerous plot involving political thugs, foreign mercenaries, and illegal arms trafficking.
The governor’s camp has dismissed the accusations as nothing more than an attempt to tarnish his reputation, one they say he has built through years of public service and recent strides in securing the state.
Yahya Sarki, the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, called the claims both “unfounded and deeply disappointing,” especially coming from someone of Malami’s legal background and previous high-ranking role in the federal government.
“It’s unfortunate and frankly unbecoming for a former Attorney-General to make such serious accusations without offering any concrete evidence,” Sarki said. “If Mr. Malami truly has credible intelligence, then the right thing would be to submit it to the security agencies and the Nigerian public — not resort to shadowy claims.”
Governor Idris, who assumed office amid rising insecurity in parts of Kebbi, has consistently prioritized safety across the state, Sarki said.
According to him, the governor has provided tangible support to security forces from vehicles and motorcycles to advanced communication tools and operational funding.
“His administration has gone further,” Sarki added, “by facilitating the deployment of armoured vehicles, strengthening partnerships with the military, police, and DSS, and working closely with the Nigerian Air Force to target bandit hideouts, particularly in areas plagued by the Lakurawa terror group.”
Supporters of the governor say these are not the actions of someone undermining the state, but of a leader working overtime to restore safety and stability to Kebbi.
While Malami has yet to publicly confirm or comment on the petition, tensions between political factions in the state appear to be growing, and many are calling for a more measured, evidence-based discourse, especially on issues as sensitive as security and public trust.
