•Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State and Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State
The killing of two young men from Kano State in Makurdi, Benue State, has triggered widespread outrage, with Governor Abba Yusuf condemning the attack as “barbaric, senseless, and unacceptable.”
The victims, Barhama Suleiman and Jamilu Ahmad, sons of renowned Islamic scholar Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil, were reportedly attacked and murdered at around 11:00 p.m. on Monday by unidentified assailants, reports Channels TV.
According to official reports, they were targeted without provocation while living peacefully in the area.
In a statement released yesterday by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Yusuf expressed profound grief over the loss.
“It is with a heavy heart and deep sense of loss that we announce the passing of two promising sons of Kano,” the governor said. “They were innocent, peace-loving citizens whose only crime was exercising their constitutional right to live and work in any part of Nigeria.”
Describing the act as “an affront to the nation’s unity and peace,” the governor reaffirmed his administration’s determination to seek justice for the victims and their families.
“This government will not rest until justice is served. We call for calm and restraint as we work closely with security agencies at all levels and the Benue State government to bring the murderers to justice,” he said.
The victims’ funeral prayers were scheduled to take place at the National Mosque in Abuja yesterday, with the governor himself leading a delegation from Kano, including family members of the deceased.
The tragic incident has drawn sympathy from across the country, particularly given the victims’ connection to Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil. Governor Yusuf extended his condolences to the grieving scholar, stating: “This loss is not just a tragedy to the families involved, but to Kano State and the entire nation.”
The Kano State government has called for peace and urged its citizens to refrain from retaliatory actions.
“Nigeria belongs to all of us. Every citizen has the right to live, move, and thrive in any part of this country without fear of discrimination or violence,” Yusuf added.
He also reiterated his government’s commitment to protecting the lives and rights of all Kano indigenes, both within and outside the state, emphasising ongoing efforts to collaborate with security agencies in unraveling the motive behind the killings.
