A former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State, Muhammadu Besse, has died in captivity after being abducted by bandits earlier this month.
His death marks another tragic outcome in the worsening wave of kidnappings and insecurity affecting communities across northern Nigeria.
Besse was abducted alongside an associate, and both were held by their captors for several weeks before his death was confirmed.
Reports indicate that a video circulated shortly after the abduction showed the former APC chieftain and his companion being subjected to humiliation by armed bandits.
Confirming the development on Tuesday, a conflict and security journalist disclosed in a post on X that Besse died while still in captivity.
“Alhaji Muhammadu Mai Barga Besse, the immediate former APC Chairman of Koko/Besse Local Government Area in Kebbi State, has been confirmed dead in captivity,” he said.
According to him, the development means that the former chairman, who appeared in viral footage from the Birnin Gwari forest, did not survive the ordeal and never reunited with his family.
“This means Besse, seen in the videos released from the Birnin Gwari forest, has lost his life without ever reuniting with his family after his abduction,” he stated.
He described the incident as a painful reminder of the deepening security crisis in parts of northern Nigeria.
“What began as disturbing footage of humiliation has ended in the worst possible tragedy,” he added.