Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed the death of a senior Islamic cleric affiliated with the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Alhaji Muhammad Maibarga, who died in captivity after his health failed while being held by bandits. The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, told newsmen on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, that police were aware of reports regarding the victim’s deteriorating condition and possible death while in the hands of his abductors. “We are aware of reports concerning the victim’s deteriorating condition and possible death in captivity. While ongoing efforts are being intensified to verify the development and secure the rescue of all kidnapped victims, both from Koko-Besse and Wasagu areas,” Usman said.
The cleric and a friend, a former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Koko-Besse Local Government Area, were abducted by armed bandits weeks earlier. A video released by the abductors reportedly showed the elderly cleric’s declining health before he eventually passed away in the forest hideout. Despite the police’s admission that they had not officially announced the case until journalists made inquiries, members of the cleric’s community had already conducted funeral prayers in absentia – a rite known as “Salat al-Gha’ib” performed for a deceased Muslim whose body is not available for burial.
The case is the latest in a series of high‑profile abductions in Kebbi State. Just days before the cleric’s death, former Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), had publicly demanded the urgent rescue of the two elderly captives, describing their situation as a desperate health emergency. The two men were being held in the Birnin Gwari forest, a notorious kidnapping hotspot straddling Kaduna and Niger states. According to multiple sources, the victims’ failing health was their principal concern, and they had repeatedly appealed for rescue as their conditions worsened.
The Kebbi State Police Command has not yet released further details regarding the exact circumstances of the cleric’s death, nor has it announced the identity of the other captive still believed to be in the den. However, the confirmation of the cleric’s passing has sent shockwaves through his community and added to the growing list of victims who have perished in captivity despite repeated calls for government action. As security forces continue search operations for the remaining hostage and other abductees, the people of Koko‑Besse are left to mourn a religious leader who never returned from the hands of his captors.
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