Atom Magira, a prominent chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and vocal critic of Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, has been detained by the Nigerian police. According to Magira’s personal assistant, Mohammed Yahaya, he was taken into custody by operatives of the Borno State Police Command on Sunday night.
Magira, a former gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 elections, has been a leading opposition figure in the state, consistently challenging Governor Zulum’s policies. Sources suggest that his detention is linked to a billboard sponsored by supporters of the “YES TO MERGER” campaign, which advocated for a merger of political parties in the state.
The billboard, featuring Magira’s image and the slogan “Say Yes To Merger,” was reportedly destroyed by unidentified individuals. A source alleged that Magira’s detention was “on the orders of the state government,” which seeks to suppress opposition voices.
As of Monday morning, Magira remains in detention, with no clarity on whether he will be charged to court. Efforts to reach ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, the Police Public Relations Officer, for comment were unsuccessful.
