Bauchi: Suspected Political Thugs Kill Islamiyya Teacher Over Poster Dispute

Bauchi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib

Bauchi: Suspected Political Thugs Kill Islamiyya Teacher Over Poster Dispute

A middle-aged Islamic studies teacher, Ustaz Ridwan Dauda, has been stabbed to death by suspected political thugs in Bauchi metropolis following a heated argument over the pasting of a politician’s campaign poster on his building wall.

The tragic incident occurred on Sunday in the Karofin-Madaki neighbourhood, around the JEDCO transformer area, leaving a father of five dead and a community in shock. Eyewitnesses reported that Dauda had objected to a man pasting a politician’s poster on the wall of his building, but the individual ignored his warning and continued with the action.

The suspect subsequently called an associate who arrived at the scene and also began pasting posters, escalating the situation into a heated confrontation. During the argument, one of the thugs reportedly produced a dagger and stabbed Dauda in the chest before fleeing the scene. Residents rushed the wounded teacher to a hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries on the way.

Community members described Ustaz Rilwanu as a kind and hardworking individual who supported his family through various means. Aside from teaching at the Islamiyya school, he took on menial jobs, including security guarding and breaking firewood, to care for his wife and five children. A resident, Bukhari Mu’azu Abubakar, who posted his condolences on Facebook, called on security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to uncover the remote and immediate causes of the unfortunate incident. He also urged community elders and leaders to take measures to prevent future occurrences and advised that politicians and their supporters should be stopped from defacing private properties with campaign materials.

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This incident echoes previous tragedies in Bauchi State, highlighting a troubling pattern of election-related violence. In 2018, two youths were killed in separate locations—Jahun and Wanka streets—during clashes over the pasting and destruction of political campaign posters belonging to rival aspirants. Bauchi has also experienced numerous other violent conflicts over the years, often linked to ethno-religious tensions and political manipulation. In 1991 and 1994, the Tafawa Balewa area witnessed violent clashes that claimed hundreds of lives, with political and religious dimensions intertwined. Nigerian politicians have admitted that the country’s religious divide is often exploited, with political leaders manipulating youths to attack opponents. Recent incidents have also raised concerns about political thuggery in the state. In May 2026, suspected political thugs attacked vehicles belonging to members of the Peoples Democratic Party during a governorship candidate affirmation event in Bauchi, vandalising cars and destroying campaign materials. The police confirmed the attack and arrested two suspects in connection with the violence.

As of the time of filing this report, the Bauchi State Police Command had not officially confirmed the latest killing. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, did not respond to messages seeking comment on the development. This stands in contrast to the police’s response to previous incidents of political violence in the state, where the command issued statements confirming attacks and announcing arrests.

Residents of Karofin-Madaki have called on security agencies to apprehend and prosecute the assailants, stressing that justice for the Dauda family must be pursued without delay. The community remains in mourning over the senseless killing of a man who was simply defending his property from political defacement, leaving behind a wife and five children. The incident has also reignited calls for stronger measures to regulate political campaign activities and prevent thugs from exploiting the political season to intimidate and harm residents.