The Kano State Police Command has detained two suspects in connection with the death of Ibrahim Khalil Danshagamu, a well-known political analyst who was allegedly stabbed with sharp items at his home in Gaida Quarters, Kumbotso Local Government Area.
The command made this known in a statement published on Wednesday by its Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori.
According to the statement, the event occurred on Monday at about 11:30 p.m., after the command received a distress call from the Vigilante Group Commander in Gaida, who reported that unknown hoodlums had forcibly entered the deceased’s home and attacked him.
“Operatives of the Kumbotso Police Division promptly responded to the scene and rushed the victim to Murtala Mohammed Specialists Hospital, Kano, where he was confirmed dead on arrival by a medical doctor,” the statement said.
The development had previously sparked condemnation from opposition politicians and human rights activists, who demanded an immediate probe into the circumstances surrounding the commentator’s death.
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano State governor and opposition politician, stated in an X post on Wednesday that Danshagamu’s body was discovered in a pool of blood at his home.
Kwankwaso characterized the killing as a “horrific attack” and urged the Kano State Government to form an investigating panel to look into the incident and bring those responsible to justice.
Amnesty International Nigeria also condemned the assassination and demanded a thorough investigation, emphasizing that outspoken persons and critics should be safeguarded in a democracy.
“In a democracy, outspoken persons or critics are accommodated, listened to, and not killed,” the organization said.
Husaini Mai Riga, the Kano State Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, called the assassination “deeply disturbing and unacceptable,” claiming it represented a major threat to press freedom, public safety, and democratic ideals in the state.
According to the statement, the arrest of the two suspects was the result of an intelligence-driven operation carried out by the Kumbotso Divisional Police Officer in coordination with tactical units of the command and community stakeholders.
“The suspects are currently in custody undergoing interrogation. The Command has intensified efforts to apprehend any other persons who may be connected to the crime,” the statement said.
It further stated that statements were being sought from relevant individuals and that forensic procedures were underway to determine the facts and motives behind the attack.
The commissioner of police expressed concern about the tragedy and sympathized with the deceased’s family, assuring people that the command will investigate the matter thoroughly.
“The Kano State Police Command will not relent in its mandate to protect lives and property. We assure the good people of Kano that justice will be pursued to its logical conclusion,” Bakori stated.
The command applauded the Gaida Vigilante Group for swiftly alerting the police, saying the incident proved the value of community policing and collaboration in crime prevention.
The police also advised locals to remain vigilant and submit genuine information by calling the nearest police station or the command’s emergency line.
“Investigation into the incident is ongoing, and the suspects will be charged to court upon its conclusion,” Kiyawa stated.
Meanwhile, more patrols and intelligence-collecting operations have been deployed in Gaida and surrounding areas to protect law and order and prevent a breakdown in peace.
