Tension is rising in Kano following the killing of two travellers by suspected gunmen in the Agan community of Makurdi, Benue State.
The victims, identified as Jamilu Ahmad and Barhana Suleiman—sons of a prominent Kano-based Islamic scholar, Ibrahim Khalil—were reportedly attacked on Monday evening while passing through the area.
Their deaths have triggered public outrage in Kano, with many demanding swift justice.
The deceased were buried on Tuesday at the Gudu Cemetery in Abuja after funeral prayers at the National Mosque.
Notable figures including National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, were in attendance.
In response to the incident, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia described the killings as “barbaric and unacceptable.” He vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, Alia stressed that the act does not reflect the character of Benue people.
“These criminals MUST be fished out immediately and made to face the full wrath of the law,” the governor declared.
Kula added that five suspects had already been arrested in connection with the attack.
Reacting to the incident, Governor Yusuf of Kano expressed strong disapproval of the killings and vowed to ensure justice is served.
“The victims were innocent citizens whose only crime was exercising their constitutional right to live and travel freely in any part of Nigeria,” Yusuf said in a statement by his spokesperson, Bature Dawakin Tofa.
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He urged Kano residents to remain calm, assuring them of ongoing collaboration with security agencies and the Benue government to apprehend the culprits.
The killings come amid a troubling wave of violence in parts of North Central Nigeria.
Just days earlier, a mob reportedly set ablaze a bus carrying wedding guests in Plateau State, killing at least 12 people.
Both Benue and Plateau have witnessed recurring violent attacks in recent months, resulting in significant loss of life and heightened insecurity.
Authorities say investigations into the latest killings are ongoing.