The Kebbi State Government has suspended a high-ranking civil servant after his controversial statement claiming that Kebbi and Sokoto States have the highest number of registered gays and lesbians in Nigeria.
Nasiru Abubakar Kigo, a permanent secretary at the Kebbi State Cabinet Office — who also doubles as an Islamic cleric — made the provocative remark during a Ramadan seminar at the Adamu Aliero Housing Estate in Birnin Kebbi.
The fallout was swift.
Governor Nasir Idris, clearly displeased with the comment, ordered Kigo’s indefinite suspension. The state government, through Chief Press Secretary Ahmed Idris, confirmed on Friday that the decision was in line with civil service conduct guidelines.
A formal suspension letter issued by the Head of Service, Malami Shekare, labeled Kigo’s comments as “social misconduct” and “a dent on a morally decent state.”
“You are to proceed on suspension pending the outcome of an investigation into your claims,” the letter stated, emphasizing that his public declaration had no basis in official records and violated the ethics expected of public servants.
The state government had earlier distanced itself from Kigo’s statement, calling it “fictitious and baseless,” urging the public to disregard it entirely.
The incident has sparked a debate on the boundaries between personal beliefs and public service roles — especially in a deeply conservative region like Kebbi.
As the investigation unfolds, many are watching closely to see whether the case sets a precedent on the accountability of public officials who blur the line between civil service and religious commentary.
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