By News Editor I Thursday, Sept 10, 2026
KANO — Global human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, has strongly condemned the brutal murder of prominent Kano social media political commentator and former broadcast journalist, Ibrahim Khalil Dan Shagamu.
The outspoken critic was found dead today in a pool of his own blood at his residence in the Gaida area of Kumbotso Local Government Area, Kano State, after being overpowered and brutally slaughtered by unidentified assailants.
Reaction to the horrific killing was swift, with Amnesty International expressing serious alarm over the safety of critics and outspoken voices in the country as political tensions escalate ahead of upcoming general elections.
In a official reaction issued on Thursday, the rights group called on the Nigerian Police Force (@PoliceNG) and relevant security agencies to immediately launch a comprehensive investigation into the incident and ensure that all perpetrators are arrested and brought to justice.
”In a democracy, outspoken persons or critics are accommodated, listened to, not killed,” Amnesty International stated. “As the elections approach, we continue to receive disturbing reports of politically related threats to life and intimidation”.
Family Speaks on Pre-incident Threats
The murder has sent shockwaves through Kano’s media and political circles. Relatives revealed that the slain commentator had repeatedly expressed fears over threats to his life in the days leading up to the attack.
Speaking to newsmen, his sister, Malama Halima, disclosed that Dan Shagamu had recently stopped sleeping at his permanent home out of fear.
”He had alleged that some people were after his life, so he avoided anywhere he sensed a threat,” she said, recalling how suspicious individuals had previously attempted to lure him out under the guise of distributing federal government palliatives.
His nephew, Muhammad Hizbullah Kabiru, who accompanied police officers into the residence after gaining access, described the scene as gruesome, noting that the victim suffered severe, lethal injuries before his body was wrapped in a blanket.
Political Leaders, Police React
The murder has drawn widespread condemnation from major political leaders in Kano State.
Former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, described the killing as “deeply disturbing” and demanded that the state government immediately establish an investigative panel. Similarly, the Kano governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, termed the murder “heinous, barbaric, and totally condemnable,” urging residents to maintain peace while security agencies carry out their duties.
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has directed the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police to track down everyone involved in the crime.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Police Command confirmed that two suspects have already been apprehended in connection with the murder.
The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed that the suspects are currently undergoing interrogation as forensic investigation continues to establish the motive behind the attack.
Ibrahim Khalil Dan Shagamu was a well-known broadcast personality and former staff member of both the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
Following his transition from government broadcasting, he established himself as a fierce independent political commentator and social critic across digital platforms, frequently weighing in on local governance, security issues, and political developments in Northern Nigeria.
His outspoken nature previously brought him into conflict with political and security figures.
In 2022, Dan Shagamu was arrested and arraigned before a Kano High Court over alleged defamation involving a high-ranking military officer, a case that gained public attention across the state.
Prior to his death, Dan Shagamu had posted several video messages online alleging persistent death threats from unidentified individuals and neighbourhood gangs, appealing to the police and traditional authorities for protection.
His assassination highlights a worrying trend of physical violence targeted at independent commentators, journalists, and political critics in Nigeria, intensifying calls for stronger state protection for free speech ahead of the next electoral cycle.
