MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — The Borno State Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), Engineer Ibrahim Idris Garba, was discovered dead in his residence in Maiduguri, alongside an unidentified woman who later died at the hospital.
The Borno State police command has launched an investigation into their deaths. There are rumors in Maiduguri that the politician was poisoned, but this claim has not been verified.
The late commissioner was responsible for overseeing the repatriation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the reconstruction of resettlement communities for them. His final official duty involved announcing the construction of 1000 resettlement homes for returning IDPs in the Bama local government area.
Governor Zulum’s spokesman, Isa Gusau, confirmed the commissioner’s demise and expressed the governor’s deep sorrow at the tragic events. The Borno State police command is conducting an urgent investigation into the death of the state’s commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), Engr Ibrahim Idriss Garba.
While details regarding the circumstances leading to their deaths remain undisclosed, the Borno State government offered prayers for the late commissioner, stating, “May Allah forgive the commissioner’s shortcomings and admit him into Aljanna.”
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Borno State command, Kaminu Shatambaya, confirmed the incident and emphasized that the police were awaiting the autopsy results before issuing an official statement. Engineer Ibrahim Idris Garba had previously served as Governor Zulum’s Special Adviser on Special Projects and had recently been appointed as the commissioner for RRR. Speculation had circulated within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Borno State, suggesting that Garba was being considered as a potential candidate for the deputy governorship position come 2027 elections.