A popular Kano-based political commentator, Ibrahim Khalil Dan Shagamu, has reportedly been killed at his residence in Kano State.
Dan Shagamu, who operated under the name Dan-shagamu International, was known for his social media videos and commentary on political, religious and community affairs.
Amnesty International Nigeria confirmed his death on Wednesday, describing the circumstances surrounding the incident as disturbing.
The rights organisation said Dan Shagamu’s body was found in a pool of blood at his home after he was allegedly overpowered and brutally killed by his assailants.
“Amnesty International strongly condemns the killing of a social media political commentator Ibrahim Khalil Dan Shagamu whose body was found today in a pool of blood at his home in Kano,” the organisation said in a statement posted on its social media handles.
“He was brutally slaughtered after being overpowered by his killers.”
The motive for the killing and the identity of those responsible remained unclear as of Wednesday.
Unverified accounts circulating on social media alleged that the commentator was killed in a gruesome manner, with some reports describing the attack as “yankan rago”, a Hausa expression commonly used to refer to throat-slitting.
Amnesty International urged the Nigerian authorities to launch a thorough investigation into the killing and ensure that anyone found responsible is prosecuted.
“The Nigerian authorities must investigate this incident and ensure that those suspected of responsibility are brought to justice,” it said.
It also raised concerns over what it described as a disturbing pattern of politically related threats and intimidation as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
“As the elections approach, we continue to receive disturbing reports of politically related threats to life and intimidation,” Amnesty said.
The death has triggered widespread reactions among Dan Shagamu’s followers, friends and residents, with several social media users expressing shock over the incident and offering prayers for the deceased.
This development comes amid growing concerns over political violence and the activities of suspected political thugs in Kano.
Reacting to a separate incident involving the alleged attack on journalists covering an All Progressives Congress rally at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in the state, Ibrahim Ali Amin Little, condemned the incident and called for stronger action against political thuggery.
Little, in a statement signed by his Executive Assistant, Adnan Mukhtar, described the attack as unacceptable and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to curb violence during political activities.
He accused politicians of contributing to the problem through the recruitment and use of thugs at political rallies, warning that such practices could expose young people to criminal activities.
“Politicians are guilty of recruiting and using thugs during political rallies, and I believe this is absolutely wrong. Such actions contribute to the destruction of the future of our young people by exposing them to immoral and criminal activities,” he said.
The ADC candidate also questioned the alleged use of thugs for political mobilisation at a time when the government was reportedly battling insecurity, thuggery, phone snatching and drug abuse.
“It is important that we tell ourselves the truth. A government that claims to be fighting thuggery, phone snatching and drug abuse should not be seen sponsoring or encouraging thugs to attend political rallies,” Little said.
He maintained that political rallies should serve as platforms for candidates to present their programmes and engage voters, rather than become settings for violence and intimidation.
“Political rallies should be platforms for presenting ideas, engaging citizens, and seeking their support, rather than breeding grounds for violence and criminality,” he added.
Little sympathised with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), journalists affected by the alleged attack and other victims, while promising that his administration would adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards political thuggery if elected governor.