Abubakar Malami
Sources Narrate How Former Minister Malami and Ex-Rep Koko Allegedly Imported Notorious Bandits to Destabilise Kebbi
…as Angry Residents, APC Supporters Fume
Sources have narrated how alleged plot by the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and Hon Muhammad Shehu Koko to destabilise Kebbi State backfired.
The duo, now prominent figures in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), allegedly imported notorious bandits and thugs to wreak havoc in the state, only to be met with fierce resistance from enraged residents and loyal All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters.
The incident, which unfolded on Monday in Birnin Kebbi, has exposed the underhanded tactics of Malami and Koko, revealing a sordid pact rooted in political desperation and criminal collusion.
According to multiple sources, Malami and Koko, both recent defectors from the APC to the ADC, allegedly conspired to unleash chaos in Kebbi State to bolster their fledgling political relevance.
Malami, who served as AGF from 2015 to 2023 under the late President Muhammadu Buhari, resigned from the APC on July 2, 2025, and joined the ADC, reportedly nursing ambitions for the Kebbi governorship in 2027.
Koko, a former House of Representatives member for Koko/Maiyama Federal Constituency, was suspended by the APC in May 2025 alongside nine others for alleged anti-party activities, disloyalty, and harassment of party executives.
Sources claimed the duo’s defection was fueled by their rejection by Kebbi’s political mainstream, prompting them to resort to thuggery and violence to intimidate opponents and assert dominance.
“Before Koko he wormed his way into politics, he was allegedly known for hiring bandits to terrorise rivals. Now, he’s found a willing partner in Malami, who’s using his legal clout to shield Koko from his corruption trial.
“Their plan was to destabilise Kebbi, make it look like the APC is losing control, and position themselves as saviours. But the people of Kebbi are wiser than that.”
The plot unravelled on Monday when Malami’s convoy, supposedly on a condolence visit to families in Birnin Kebbi, was allegedly used as a cover to transport armed thugs and bandits to the APC state headquarters along Old NITEL Road.
Malami claimed his convoy was attacked by “suspected political thugs” emerging from the APC office, a narrative he peddled to journalists, lamenting that “about 10 vehicles were vandalised” and supporters injured.
However, multiple eyewitnesses and residents paint a starkly different picture, accusing Malami and Koko of orchestrating the violence themselves.
“They weren’t attacked; they were the attackers,” said a local trader who witnessed the chaos, also speaking anonymously.
“Malami and Koko brought these hoodlums to vandalise the APC secretariat and intimidate supporters. They thought they could bully their way into relevance, but the people of Birnin Kebbi wouldn’t have it.
“Residents and APC loyalists spotted the thugs, chased them down, and stopped their nonsense. That’s why Malami is crying foul now – his plan failed, and he’s embarrassed.”
Sources added that Koko personally mobilised the bandits, leveraging his longstanding connections with men of the underworld.
“Koko has been linked to bandits for years,” a security operative in Kebbi revealed. “He uses them to harass opponents, disrupt elections, and create fear.
“This time, he promised Malami an army of thugs to boost his ADC campaign, while Malami, with his legal influence, assured Koko protection from his ICPC troubles. It’s a dirty deal, plain and simple.”
The Kebbi State Police Command has launched an investigation into the incident.
