Kwankwaso demands inquiry after Kano commentator found slain at home

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has condemned the killing of Ibrahim Khalil Dan Shagamu, a well-known Kano social media commentator, and called on the state government to set up an investigative panel after the critic’s body was discovered at his residence.

Dan Shagamu, who built a large Hausa-language following under the banner Dan-Shagamu International, was found dead at his home in Gaida, in Kumbotso local government area of Kano metropolis. Relatives and neighbours said he had been unreachable since Monday before friends and neighbours scaled the compound fence late on Tuesday. Family members described a scene of severe wounds, including deep cuts to the head; two mobile phones were reported missing. Amnesty International said he had been “brutally slaughtered after being overpowered by his killers.”

Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor and vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), wrote on X that he was “deeply disturbed” by the death.

“I am deeply disturbed by the killing of the renowned social media political commentator Ibrahim Khalil Dan Shagamu, whose body was found today in a pool of his blood at his home in Kano,” he said. “Dan Shagamu was brutally slaughtered in a horrific attack. I strongly urge the Kano State Government to immediately constitute an investigative panel to thoroughly probe this incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

He added that if the authorities failed to act “decisively and transparently”, an incoming NDC government would, on taking office, “launch a full investigation and take all necessary steps to hold those responsible accountable.”

Kwankwaso also appealed to both the state and federal governments to protect opposition voices. “The Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of expression for all citizens, and this right must shield everyone from threats, attacks, and intimidation,” he said. He offered condolences to the family, friends and followers of the deceased, praying that he be granted Jannatul Firdaus.

Dan Shagamu, reported to be 57 and a father of six, previously worked for Pyramid Radio and the Nigerian Television Authority before turning to social media. His videos, often pointed and political, dealt with government, religion and community affairs in Kano and beyond, and had drawn a substantial audience on Facebook and TikTok. Relatives said he had received anonymous death threats and had changed address as a result. His elder sister, Aisha Sharu Lawan, told reporters the killing was a “grisly sight” and called for those responsible to be prosecuted. A niece, Rabi, told local journalists that two people had been arrested in connection with the case; the Kano State Police Command had not issued a detailed public confirmation at the time of writing.

Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the murder and said critics in a democracy should be “accommodated, listened to, not killed.” The organisation linked the case to a wider pattern of threats and intimidation as campaigning for the 2027 elections gathers pace. Nigeria’s presidential poll is scheduled for 16 January 2027.

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf described the killing as “shocking and unacceptable” and directed the police and the Department of State Services to identify, arrest and prosecute those involved. His spokesman, Sunusi Bature, said the governor had offered condolences and urged residents to remain calm and not take the law into their own hands.

The NDC’s Kano chairman, Husaini Mai Riga, called the death “deeply disturbing and unacceptable” and said it threatened press freedom, public safety and democratic values. He asked the authorities to strengthen protection for journalists.

The motive remains unconfirmed. Some associates pointed to earlier personal disputes and threats; others noted Dan Shagamu’s criticism of both state and federal governments. No official finding has been published. The killing comes amid a tense political realignment in Kano, where Governor Yusuf has recently moved towards the ruling All Progressives Congress while Kwankwaso campaigns on the opposition NDC ticket with Peter Obi.

Security agencies have been ordered to investigate. Relatives and rights groups say only a transparent inquiry, and successful prosecutions, will determine whether the murder was a private crime or an attack on political speech.

By James John