Like Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago threatened to jail harmless residents in the past, his aide Shehu Bawa Bwari has threatened to bring down a Minna-based Facebook user, Muhammad Alfa Muhammad.
Bawa’s threat follows an inquiry by Muhammad about the progress of the “New Niger Bread” initiative, a project supported by taxpayers’ funds.
Bawa, the Coordinator on Entrepreneurship to the governor, responded harshly to the query.
“Sometimes (sic) back, I asked you to be careful of the way you criticize people on social media.
“You asked about New Niger bread, I will answer your question in a very legal way. Next time you’ll think that what you are doing on social media is putting yourself in trouble,” Bawa warned.
In July 2024, Bago donated the sum of N20 million to support youths on the production of bread and other confectionery.
The initiative is aimed at empowering 200 master trainers to produce 10,000 bakers across the state within four years.
“I don’t joke with my efforts, and if you try to attack my efforts, ‘ubanka zan ci, bama ubanka ba, buhun uban ubanka’ (I will eat your father, not even your father I will eat your great-great-grandfather). And that’s my nature. I stopped at nothing in bringing you down,” Bawa continued, reinforcing his threat.
Muhammad’s post asked for updates on the bread production and whether the promised training of students had been completed.
In a subsequent Facebook post, Muhammad expressed concern for his safety, holding Bawa accountable for any potential harm.
“I am compelled to bring to the public’s attention the threatening message sent to me by Shehu Bawa Bwari… I hold Shehu Bawa Bwari responsible for any harm or danger that may come to me or anyone close to me.”
Bawa’s hostile reaction echoes a similar incident earlier this year when Governor Bago was caught on video threatening to jail a resident for disrupting his speech during a public event.
“You are very stupid… I will get you arrested if you misbehave further,” Bago said at the time.
Bago’s actions, which have included ordering the assault of a cleric, have drawn heavy criticism for their authoritarian nature.
Bawa’s threats and Bago’s past conduct raise questions about the climate of governance in Niger State, particularly regarding the treatment of critics and the public’s right to inquire about government initiatives.
