Kebbi Governor Suspends Perm Sec Over Controversial Gay Claim

Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has suspended a senior official, Nasiru Abubakar Kigo, from his position as Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office following controversial comments about the LGBTQ community.

According to Vanguard, the suspension was confirmed on Friday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ahmed Idris. The action comes in response to Kigo’s claim that Kebbi and Sokoto States have the highest number of registered gays and lesbians in Nigeria.

The Kebbi State Head of Service, Malami Shekare, issued a formal suspension letter to Kigo, stating that, under civil service regulations, he is to remain suspended pending the outcome of an investigation into the matter. The letter described his statement as “social misconduct” that tarnishes the moral reputation of the state.

The state government has publicly discredited Kigo’s assertion, labelling it as baseless and fictitious.

Kigo, who also serves as an Islamic cleric, made the contentious statement during a Ramadan seminar at the Adamu Aliero Housing Estate in Birnin Kebbi.