Kebbi State governor Nasir Idris has rejected a petition by former attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, which alleged that he was involved in importing political thugs, foreign mercenaries and trafficking arms into the state.
In a statement on Friday, the governor’s special adviser on media and publicity, Yahya Sarki, said the claims were false and an attempt to smear the governor’s reputation.
Mr Sarki challenged Malami to present evidence if he indeed had “credible intelligence” as claimed in the petition addressed to security agencies.
“It is indisputable that Governor Nasir Idris has, since assuming office, supported the fight against insecurity by providing vehicles, motorcycles, communication gadgets, and operational allowances to security agencies,” Sarki said.
According to him, the governor also facilitated the deployment of armoured vehicles, strengthened collaboration with the military, police and DSS and secured aerial support from the Nigerian Air Force in operations against bandits, particularly the Lakurawa network.
He said the allegations were not only unfounded but also an insult to the security agencies working in the state.
“The Kebbi State Government welcomes any independent investigation into these claims, but Malami must be prepared to provide verifiable evidence, names, numbers, locations, and weapons of the alleged mercenaries,” he added.
Sarki further alleged that Malami recently came into Kebbi with a convoy of political thugs during a condolence visit and that the thugs caused destruction in the state capital.
Governor Idris, he said, remained committed to peace and security in the state.
Abubakar Malami had in a petition dated September 10 and addressed to the national security adviser, inspector general of police and other security chiefs, alleged that political actors in Kebbi were importing foreign mercenaries from Niger Republic and arming them through illegal channels.
He also claimed that his convoy was attacked by suspected thugs in Birnin Kebbi on September 1, with 10 vehicles vandalised and several supporters injured.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state denied involvement, with spokesman Isa Assalafy insisting that no government confident of victory in 2027 would want to disrupt the peace of the state.
Malami urged security agencies to investigate what he described as a national security threat with potential to destabilise Kebbi and undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.
