Bako Bala, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Suru Local Government Area (LGA) of Kebbi State, was tragically shot dead by gunmen during an abduction attempt at his residence.
According to a Facebook post by Zaidu Bala, the special adviser on television and radio to Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, the incident occurred when kidnappers targeted Bala and his family. “To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return. Alhaji Bako Bala has died — APC chairman of Suru local government,” the post stated. “He died after kidnappers abducted him and his family last night. They shot him, and he passed away at the Medical Centre Hospital in Birnin Kebbi. May Allah have mercy on him.”
Kebbi State police spokesperson Nafiu Abubakar confirmed that he would verify the incident and provide additional information.
This tragic event highlights the ongoing surge in banditry across Nigeria’s north-western region, where security forces continue their decade-long struggle to combat insecurity. In recent weeks, Nigerian military personnel have thwarted several attacks, including a terrorist assault on Department of State Services (DSS) facilities in Niger State on September 11, and the elimination of notorious bandit leaders in Zamfara by Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) forces.
