Kebbi violence: Why Malami and Koko Have Cases to Answer

By Iliasu Idris

The recent invasion of our beloved town by notorious bandits that reverberates through the streets of Birnin Kebbi has become an interesting focus of national security. Nigeria is witnessing an unfortunate realization where political machinations have not merely collided with public safety but have precipitated a catastrophe of unprecedented magnitude. The rumors of violence and insecurity in Kebbi state, in particular, open cans of questions that go beyond just governance; questions that demand the swift re-examination of the very nature of political power and the deadly relationship it has with terrorism. This surge in insecurity has been largely attributed to the rise of bandits that terrorize rural communities and farmers alike. But this does not occur in a vacuum.

On the aforementioned, it is discovered that a thorough investigation into the activities of the likes of Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney General of the Federation, and Shehu Koko, a former lawmaker from our beloved state reveals a disquieting reality: These individuals have cases to answer, and the stakes could not be higher. It is important to note that the violence plaguing Kebbi state isn’t the consequence of poor governance or the weakness of its security architecture— what Nigerians are witnessing is a direct result of a political conspiracy; politicians playing the deadly game of turning banditry into a political tool for vested interests.

To understand the level of this danger better, it would be appropriate to look into the personalities of these two notorious political figures. It’s still on record that Nigerians experienced a dark season marked by a series of legal and political controversies under the tenure of Abubakar Malami as Nigeria’s Attorney General. His role in matters of national security and his relationship with powerful political and economic forces was a dictatorial burden of suppression on National growth and transparency. Therefore, the news of bringing things into Kebbi didn’t come as a surprise, but only warrants the closest scrutiny, to unravel the deep desperation of Malami’s political ambition, and expose him to the good people of Nigeria who think that Malami has changed. But unfortunately, a leopard can never change its spots.

Moreover, the action of Muhammed Shehu Koko involvement is equally troubling to know. Koko is a former House of Representatives member for Koko/Maiyama Federal Constituency, and he was suspended by the APC in May 2025 alongside nine others for alleged anti-party activities, disloyalty, and harassment of party executives. Before he wormed his way into politics, he was known for hiring bandits to terrorise rivals. Now, he’s found a willing partner in Malami, who’s using his legal clout to shield Koko from his corruption trial. His transition from a legislator to a suspected bandit sponsor is what we can call, the corrosive influence of power and ambition within Nigeria’s politics.

According to verified sources, Malami allegedly provided Koko with $1 million to bankroll the bandits and terrorists, with explicit instructions to “resume work” in Kebbi by launching attacks to create panic and discredit Idris’s governance. According to a former ally of Koko, who was part of the plot but later opted out, he revealed that Koko pocketed most of the funds out of greed, releasing only $100,000 to the bandits with a promise of more “once they resumed work in Kebbi.” This betrayal made the ally leaked the details to authorities, thereby exposing Koko’s evil plan. In frantic efforts to shield Koko from scrutiny, and taking his failed plan off the center stage, Malami launched a desperate campaign to divert attention from his crimes. On the 10th of September, Malami filed a petition to the National Security Adviser, Inspector General of Police, DSS, and other agencies, falsely accusing Governor Idris of importing “foreign mercenaries” and arming terrorists.

Malami’s shabby master plan is to bring in criminal elements to destabilize Kebbi, thereby creating a climate of fear and discontent that could potentially bolster his political ambitions, by creating the ground to project himself as a savior. It is disturbing to comprehend this chilling allegation in reality, because, importing bandits into Kebbi is not an accident of political ambition gone awry, it is an intentional act of calculated destruction that is meant to serve personal interests at the cost of human lives. Evidently, Malami’s alleged orchestration in this deadly game of politics puts the safety of the entire nation in jeopardy.

The embittered duo( Malami and Koko), who are defunct members of the APC and now prominent figures in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), have imported notorious bandits and thugs to wreak havoc in the state, revealing a sordid pact rooted in political desperation and criminal collusion. It can be recalled that this duo’s defection was fueled by their rejection by Kebbi’s political mainstream, prompting them to resort to thuggery and violence to intimidate opponents and assert dominance, as it’s no secret that Koko has a long history of thuggery.

However, upon keen observation of their theatrics, it is revealed that their desire for control often overrides the sanctity of human life. They believed that engineering the destabilization of Kebbi could very well weaken the influence of political opponents, thereby creating a crisis that would allow them ( Malami and Koko) to present themselves as the solution; a plan which is now evidently playing out in the open, and this is not a new tactic in Nigerian politics. What makes this particular situation in Kebbi a very disturbing one is the high profile of the individuals allegedly involved. A successful execution of this plot would see to another rise of another uncontrolled group of bandits that might seek to further terrorize the peace of the state with the supposed backing and sponsorship of powerful political individuals.

The country’s failure to address such systemic issues has led to a situation where the powerful are often immune from justice, while the most vulnerable bear the brunt of their machinations. The very fact that such claims which is backed by eyewitness testimony and public reports exist, indicates the porosity of accountability at the highest levels. How can a nation that touts itself as a democracy, a place where the rule of law is paramount, allow such individuals to operate with impunity?

Presently, one cannot help but feel a deep sense of disillusionment with the happenings in Kebbi. The lives of ordinary Nigerians have become pawns in a brutal game played by the elite. We are not only witnessing a case of negligence that ought to have been taken seriously, but a deliberate execution of violence for personal gain, and the people of Nigeria deserve answers right now. As rightly noted, the dynamics of violence are not only the product of criminal opportunism that weren’t prevented very early, but are being actively orchestrated by powerful figures within Nigeria’s political elite.

Mr President and every patriotic individual must not see Kebbi’s suffering as a local issue; it must be seen as an emblem of a larger crisis that threatens the very foundation of the Nigerian state. Notably, Malami and Koko are in a political lab, preparing violence that might spin out of control, which might metamorphose into another national catastrophe. It is irrefutable that this is how Boko-haram was birthed; initially emerged as a seemingly harmless entity but has since evolved into a formidable and ferocious force that has become hard to totally eradicate. What Malami failed to understand is that, just like other nations plagued by terrorism, it all start with a small group of paid machineries that were used by selfish individuals like himself to cause mayhem, but overtime, with the confidence that they are backed by powerful individuals, they grew in numbers, expanded their territory and ultimately becoming uncontrollable and morphing into international terrorist organizations.

Without mincing words, Malami and Koko have cases to answer, not only for the plot of violence they are orchestrating in Kebbi, but for the larger question of political responsibility and ethical governance in Nigeria. The preservation of the countless lives that may be lost to this senseless plot of Malami and Koko must not be ignored. The Inspector General of Police, DSS, and other agencies must call them in for questioning.

Nigeria’s future is in grave jeopardy if Malami and Koko are not thoroughly investigated.

Idris wrote this piece from Kebbi State..