The Kebbi State Government has suspended a Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office, Nasiru Abubakar Kigo, over his controversial claim that Kebbi and Sokoto states have the highest number of registered gays and lesbians in the country.
Governor Nasir Idris approved Kigo’s indefinite suspension following public outrage over the remark, which the state government described as “fictitious and baseless.”
Kigo, who is also an Islamic cleric, made the statement during a Ramadan seminar held at the Adamu Aliero Housing Estate in Birnin Kebbi.
Confirming the development on Friday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, said the suspension was in line with civil service regulations.
A letter issued by the state Head of Service, Malami Shekare, read in part, “According to civil service rules, you are to proceed on suspension pending the outcome of investigation on your claims of registered homosexuals and lesbians in Kebbi State.
Your statement constitutes social misconduct and a dent on a morally decent state.”
The Kebbi State Government had earlier distanced itself from Kigo’s assertion, insisting that no such statistics exist and that the claim was a personal opinion not backed by any official data.
The incident has sparked debate across the state, with several groups calling for responsible public communication, especially from government officials.
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