The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State has strongly condemned a violent attack on the convoy of former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), which took place in the state capital, Birnin Kebbi, on Monday.
The incident has sparked political tension in the state, with both the APC and Malami pointing fingers over who was responsible for the violence.
According to eyewitnesses, the attack led to the destruction of several vehicles in Malami’s convoy, and many people were injured during the clash. The exact number of injured persons has not been confirmed, but sources say at least ten vehicles were damaged.
Reacting to the attack, the Public Relations Officer of the APC in Kebbi State, Isa Abubakar As-Salafi, told journalists that the party first heard of the incident through social media. He said the APC does not support violence and called for peace among all political parties in the state.
“We live in peace, and we want peace to continue to be promoted by all political parties in the state,” As-Salafi stated.
He also added that the party would carry out an internal investigation to find out who was behind the attack. However, he alleged that the security operatives attached to Malami’s convoy fired gunshots during the incident, which may have worsened the situation.
As-Salafi emphasized the need for all political players to avoid violence and promote unity, especially as the 2027 elections begin to shape political movements in the state.
In his own statement, Abubakar Malami, who now leads the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kebbi State, strongly condemned the attack. He claimed that the violence was politically motivated and that those who attacked his convoy came from the APC state headquarters.
“It’s a painful act clearly linked to politics. Some thugs came out from the APC state headquarters armed with dangerous weapons and stones, attacking and destroying our convoy,” Malami said.
He also made it clear that his visit to Birnin Kebbi had nothing to do with politics. According to him, he was in the city to pay condolences to families of prominent individuals who had passed away.
“My mission was purely social and humanitarian. I was not on a political campaign. Yet, we were attacked violently,” he explained.
Despite the attack, Malami said he remains committed to his political journey in the state. “When it comes to politics in Kebbi State, there is no retreat, no surrender,” he declared.
People who witnessed the attack said that chaos broke out suddenly, and stones were thrown at the vehicles in Malami’s convoy. Some of the vehicles had their windows smashed, and some passengers were seen bleeding from injuries caused during the incident.
A resident who asked not to be named said, “We just saw people running, and then we heard gunshots. There were a lot of youths around, and some were holding sticks and stones.”
Another witness said, “They were shouting and throwing things at the convoy. It was very scary. I don’t know why such a thing should happen in broad daylight.”
Though no deaths have been reported, there are fears that such violence could escalate if not properly addressed by security agencies and political leaders in the state.
Abubakar Malami served as Nigeria’s Minister of Justice from 2015 to 2023 under President Muhammadu Buhari. After leaving office, he joined the ADC and has since been active in state-level politics in Kebbi.
Kebbi State, which is currently controlled by the APC, has seen growing political competition as new parties and old power blocs prepare for the next electoral cycle. The attack on Malami’s convoy is seen by many as a sign of increasing political tension in the state.
As of the time of filing this report, the police in Kebbi State have not released an official statement on the incident. However, a senior police source confirmed that an investigation is ongoing and promised that those responsible will be brought to justice.
Meanwhile, The Bureau News will continue to monitor developments in the case and provide updates as more information becomes available.
