Former AGF Abubakar Malami’s Convoy Attacked Amidst Political Defection

The political climate in Kebbi State escalated on Monday with a violent attack on the convoy of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. The incident, which occurred in Birnin Kebbi, left at least 10 vehicles vandalized and several of Malami’s supporters injured.

Malami, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), had just returned to the state for a condolence visit. He described the attack as a clear act of political thuggery. “I was in Birnin Kebbi solely to pay condolences to families who lost their loved ones while I was away, not for political campaigns,” Malami stated. “It’s painful and unfortunate. Some thugs emerged from the APC state headquarters, armed with weapons and stones, and attacked our convoy.”

The Kebbi State chapter of the APC has swiftly denied any involvement. In a statement released by its Publicity Secretary, Isa Assalafy, the party condemned the violence and reiterated its commitment to peace. “No government that enjoys the massive support of the people and is confident of victory in 2027 would want the peace of the state disrupted,” Assalafy said. The APC official further alleged that armed security personnel attached to Malami’s convoy opened fire during the confrontation, which he claimed escalated the situation.

The attack comes as Malami positions himself as a leading opposition figure in Kebbi State and as the ADC-led coalition, which includes other prominent opposition figures, consolidates its support base ahead of the 2027 general elections. The coalition recently received a major boost in neighboring Sokoto State with the defection of hundreds of APC supporters.

As of the time of this report, the Kebbi State Police Command has yet to release an official statement on the matter but has confirmed that an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice. The incident underscores the rising political tensions and security concerns in the state as the 2027 elections draw closer.