More details have continued to emerge about the circumstances that led to the death of Ibrahim Khalil Dan Shagamu, a social media commentator who was slaughtered at his home in Kano on Wednesday.
Family members said the deceased was attacked by yet-to-be-identified men who broke into his house and killed him in the middle of the night.
Dan Shagamu, 54, is survived by six children and was buried amidst tears and many questions about the circumstances surrounding his gruesome death.
While some residents say his death could be thuggery-related by some sponsored persons in the area, others believe that it could be connected with his social media commentaries, which touch a variety of social, political and even religious issues.
A quick check on his social media handles shows that Dan Shagamu was fond of posting selfie-recorded videos of him commenting on various issues.
In his videos, he literally attacked everyone ranging from politicians, traditional rulers, opposing religious groups to his neighbours. This, according to analysts, could make each of the groups he attacked potential suspect in his killing.
A resident of the area who preferred not to be mentioned confided in Weekend Trust that beyond what is in the public, residents of the area suspect that he could have been be involved in something that made his neighbours uncomfortable.
The source said even the account that he shared in one of his videos in the past alleging threats to his life over an encounter with a small child wasn’t normal.
He said, ‘There is no way everyone in the area could turn against a person unless there is something underground. He had a good relationship with little children who are always after him, which made people suspect that the relationship wasn’t normal, hence the hostility.
‘But nobody could substantiate the kind of relationship with them. He was also living alone in his house after his divorce. He asked his six children to leave the house for their grandparents’ after he alleged there were threats to his life, saying he should rather be killed alone than with the children. That was why when he was found killed in the house, he was alone,’ the source added.
He also said late Dan Shagamu’s life represented a paradox: outspoken on social media, but reserved and with limited friends in reality.
The source explained that beyond the social media commentary videos, many people knew nothing about his other life.
He also claimed that the way he interacted with people showed that he had a personality disorder. ‘He alleged threats to his life on several occasions without identifying names, and whenever he was asked to name them, he wouldn’t.’
Checks by our reporter showed that he worked at two radio stations in Kano as a marketing staff, and that he was also at one time into filmmaking as a writer in the Kannywood Hausa movie industry.
His sister, Aisha Muhammad Lawal, however, debunked the narratives, saying he had nothing against anybody, including neighbours. The Ward Head of Ja’en Yamma B, where Dan Shagamu resided, Abdullahi Suleiman Muhammad, shed light on the life of the slain social media commentator.
Muhammad told Weekend Trust that the deceased lived in the community for some time but was not well integrated with residents.
‘He often recorded videos alleging that neighbours or religious groups wanted to kill him. But whenever asked to mention names, he couldn’t,’ the Ward Head said.
He explained that one of the few occasions he came to know the deceased personally was when a dispute arose between him and a child who had asked for alms. ‘He refused to give alms, and the child insulted him, which caused tension. We intervened and settled the matter. That was how I came to know him,’ Muhammad recalled.
According to him, the deceased was known for making videos in which he claimed people were plotting against him. ‘Even recently, he said a religious group member wanted to kill him. He lived with suspicion and often believed people were after him, but the allegations were never backed by evidence,’ he added.
Muhammad stressed that while there had been misunderstandings, the community had resolved them and there was no evidence that residents took the law into their own hands. The Ward Head confirmed that vigilante operatives first alerted him on the night of the incident, saying the deceased’s house had been broken into. ‘When the police came and entered the house, they found that he had been slaughtered,’ he said. The body was later taken to hospital before being returned for burial the following morning.
He urged landlords and residents to always introduce new tenants to community leaders to avoid similar problems in the future. ‘If someone lives among us without our knowledge, we don’t know their background or intentions, which can cause problems,’ he warned.
Muhammad prayed for the soul of the deceased and extended condolences to his family, saying: ‘We call on the community to continue embracing peace, because peace is everything in life. May Allah forgive him and grant him mercy.’
We want justice- Children
The children of the late Ibrahim Khalil Dan Shagamu have called on the state government and the police to ensure justice is served. Family members alleged that the attackers were not from the neighborhood, and that after committing the act, they locked the house and fled.
Speaking to reporters, his eldest son, Muhammad Ibrahim, said he was at his grandparents’ house when the incident occurred.
‘I didn’t know what had happened until in the morning when I was told he was unwell. When I arrived, they tried to shield me, so I wouldn’t be distressed. That was when I learnt about what had happened. We received this terrible news, and truly, we are praying to God to reward him,’ he said.
He appealed to the authorities to investigate thoroughly, stressing that ‘it is unacceptable to slaughter a human being like an animal, which is forbidden in Islam.’
His daughter, Ummusalma Ibrahim, described the death as painful and urged the government to identify those responsible. ‘We feel very sad, but our plea is that those who committed this act should be investigated and brought to book. That is my message,’ she said.
His other son, Awwal Ibrahim, said the family had resigned to God’s will but insisted that justice must be pursued. ‘It is God’s decree. May Allah have mercy on him and forgive him. We want the authorities to make every effort to find those who committed this terrible act,’ he said.
The family disclosed that Dan Shagamu had often been involved in political disputes with prominent figures, which led him to ask his children to stay with their mother for safety. He left behind six children and no wives.
Community members said the killing has shocked residents, with many calling for swift action by the police to apprehend the culprits.
Investigation continues
The Police Public Relations Officer in Kano State, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, could not be reached for comments on the issue. Calls made to his phone and texts sent to him were neither answered nor returned as at the press time.
However, he earlier said two people have been arrested while investigation is still ongoing to arrest all the suspects. Once it is completed, he said they will be charged in court.
He also said that, from what they gathered, the killing may not be connected to his social media activities.