Alhaji Muhammadu Mai Barga Besse, the immediate past chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Koko/Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State, has reportedly died while being held by bandits.
Besse was abducted alongside a prominent cleric of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah wa Ikamatis-Sunnah (JIBWIS), Alhaji Muhammad Maibarga. Following their kidnapping, a disturbing video circulated online showing the two men being humiliated by their captors in the Birnin Gwari forest, a known stronghold for armed bandits operating in parts of northern Nigeria.
On June 10, the Kebbi State Police Command confirmed that Alhaji Maibarga had died in captivity.
The death of Besse was later confirmed by security and conflict analyst Bakatsine in a post shared on X on Tuesday, June 23.
“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,” he wrote.
“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.”
Bakatsine described the development as a tragic reflection of the persistent insecurity affecting 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.
