Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has condemned the killing of Kano-based social media commentator Ibrahim Khalil Dan Shagamu, and has called for a transparent investigation into the attack and prosecution of those responsible.
Dan Shagamu was killed at his residence in Gaida Quarters, Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State, on Monday night.
The incident has drawn attention to the security risks confronting outspoken commentators as police investigators work to establish what led to the attack and whether the victim’s public activities played any part in the incident.
The Kano State Police Command said it had arrested two suspects in connection with the killing. The command said the men were being interrogated while forensic procedures were underway to clarify the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Police said the incident occurred at about 11:30pm after the Vigilante Group Commander in Gaida reported that unidentified hoodlums had forcibly entered Dan Shagamu’s residence and attacked him with sharp objects.
Operatives from the Kumbotso Police Division responded to the distress call and took the victim to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital in Kano, where a medical doctor confirmed his death.
The police have not disclosed the identities of the suspects or established a motive for the assault.
Reacting to the incident in a statement published on his X account on Friday, Obi said no disagreement or criticism could justify taking a person’s life.
“I am deeply saddened by the killing of social media commentator, Ibrahim Khalil Dan Shagamu, in his home in Kano,” Obi said.
He added: “No disagreement, criticism, or neighbourhood dispute can ever justify the taking of a human life.”
The former Anambra State governor also warned against creating an atmosphere in which people are afraid to express their views.
“Those who speak up, express their opinions, or hold different views must not be made to live in fear,” he said.
Obi called on the Kano State Government and security agencies to conduct a “thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation” into the killing.
He also sought the prosecution of everyone found culpable and linked the case to the constitutional protection of freedom of expression.
The police had earlier pledged to pursue the investigation to its logical conclusion. The command said the suspects would be charged before a court once the inquiry was completed.
Obi extended his condolences to Dan Shagamu’s family, friends, colleagues, and followers, while praying for the repose of his soul.
The case now rests on the investigation’s ability to establish how the attackers gained access to the residence, identify those behind the assault, and determine the motive for the killing. Those answers will be crucial in a case that has already stirred concern among Kano residents and social media users.
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