Youth Leader ‘Nearly Murdered’ in Night-time Ordeal – Alleged Assault by Senior Official’s Men

Haruna Isah, Speaker of the Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN) in Jigawa State, has described a terrifying attempt on his life after a menacing phone call and a night-time ambush in Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State.

“Today, at about 12:50 pm, I received a threatening phone call from the Senior Special Assistant to the Government on Education Monitoring, Bashir Ibrahim Mango, filled with insults and direct threats to my life,” he said, adding that the harassment had been ongoing.

The incident took place later the same day, when Isah says he was visiting the home of Hon. Engr. Magaji Da’u Aliyu, former member, Birnin Kudu/Buji Federal Constituency.

According to the youth leader, the situation escalated at about 10.00 pm when a large group stormed the residence: “Bashir Ibrahim Mango stormed in with about twenty (20) men. They launched a brutal and coordinated attack on me until I lost consciousness.”

He credits the watchmen and an elderly man at the gate with preventing his death and says he was rushed to hospital by a police officer immediately after regaining consciousness.

Isah has reported the matter to the police and says the case is now on record, insisting the attack is about far more than one man’s safety.

“This attack is not just a personal assault on me but a direct attack on youth leadership, freedom of expression, and democracy in our dear state,” he declared, calling for an end to political violence.

He thanked well-wishers for phone calls, texts and prayers, saying their solidarity had given him strength.

The speaker insisted the security services are aware and involved, and warned against the use of intimidation in politics.

“Let us continue to stand together against intimidation and oppression. No voice should be silenced through violence,” he said, finishing the statement with his name and title, Haruna Isah (RN), Speaker, Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN), Jigawa State.

The allegation that a senior government aide led the attack will put authorities under intense pressure to investigate swiftly.