NIGERIA: Former Attorney-General, Malami Alleges Orchestrated Attack On Convoy In Kebbi

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has alleged that his convoy was violently attacked in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday in what he described as a politically motivated assault.

In a statement he personally shared on Monday, Malami said the incident occurred near his private residence as he returned from condolence visits to the Emir of Gwandu and the family of the late Imam Tukur Kola.

According to him, the attackers emerged from the All Progressives Congress (APC) headquarters located close to his residence.

He claimed that stones and dangerous objects were hurled at his convoy, damaging vehicles and leaving several people injured, including victims with fractures.

Malami stressed that the attack was not a random act of violence but a “politically orchestrated” assault allegedly funded and coordinated by influential figures in the state.

He said APC stalwarts and relatives of the Kebbi State Governor were visibly present during the incident, while security personnel failed to intervene as the thugs allegedly took refuge inside the party headquarters.

“This is not about me as Abubakar Malami. This is about the dangerous path our state and our country are treading, where thuggery replaces dialogue, and intimidation replaces governance,” Malami said.

He further criticised the state of governance in Kebbi, warning that citizens were being subjected to violence and neglect at a time when, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, more than 133 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty.

Malami urged political leaders in the state to abandon “do-or-die politics” and respect the constitutional rights of citizens to movement, speech, and association. He cautioned that history and the people of Kebbi would ultimately judge leaders who prioritised power over the welfare of their citizens.

“Nigeria cannot afford to slide into anarchy,” he warned, adding that public resources must be deployed to protect lives and property, not to sponsor political thuggery.