By The Bureau News | Nigeria News Today
In what has triggered a wave of backlash on social media, Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, posted a now-deleted tweet threatening to “unalive” an X user who verbally attacked his mother, Hadiza Isma El-Rufai.
The heated exchange began when Mrs. El-Rufai, a former first lady and novelist, responded to discourse on President Donald Trump’s past travel ban that included Nigeria. She tweeted:
“A great percentage of these Nigerian Americans making us proud abroad are Igbos. There’s always two sides to every story.”
Her remarks stirred strong reactions, prompting her to issue a follow-up tweet defending her right to speak freely:
“No cyberbully can take away my right to express my opinion. Not everything is about politics, but that is something some of you will never understand.”
However, a user identified as @jussstice09 crossed a line with a venomous response:
“You no go die well ma.”
In response, Bashir El-Rufai fired off a threatening message that has since been removed:
“If you ever utter that phrase to my mother again & delete that tweet, I am going to find you (it’s easier than you think) & unalive you and your family.”
The Bureau News reports that Mr. El-Rufai has not issued a public apology or comment since the incident. Attempts by journalists to reach him for clarification went unanswered.
This isn’t the first time Bashir has sparked outrage online. In March, he tweeted that there would be “increased bloodshed” in Southern Kaduna—a predominantly Christian region—if locals continued to oppose Fulani herders. That tweet was also deleted, and he later apologized amid public outrage.
In a separate incident, Bashir drew criticism for mocking Abubakar ‘Dadiyatta’ Idris, a vocal critic of his father who mysteriously disappeared in 2020. He described Dadiyatta’s disappearance as “a good consequence” and labelled those demanding justice as “clowns.”
Social Reactions and Concerns
Critics say El-Rufai’s repeated outbursts reflect an alarming pattern of online hostility from those in influential positions.
Human rights advocates have raised concerns about the safety of free speech in Nigeria, especially when dissenting voices are met with veiled threats from politically connected individuals.
