The Federal Government College Kaduna Old Students Association (FEGOKOSA) has called on Union Bank Plc to investigate the killing of its alumnus, Mohammed Sulaimo, a newly-appointed Regional Manager, who was shot dead by unknown gunmen on August 4, 2025, along the Kaduna–Katsina highway.

Sulaimo, who had been in his new position for just three weeks, was travelling with only his driver when he was ambushed and killed, a development that FEGOKOSA described as “deeply troubling” and a “wake-up call” on Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Friday, the Global President of FEGOKOSA, Mr. Seyi Gambo, questioned the level of security provided by Union Bank to a top executive operating in one of the country’s most volatile regions.

“This is not just about Mohammed; this is about the state of security in Nigeria. We must ask why a newly appointed Regional Manager was travelling alone with his driver through farmlands that everyone knows are dangerous. No escort, no bulletproof car; that is unacceptable. This is a senior officer, not just a branch manager. If a company cannot provide basic security for its top staff, then something is wrong.”

Gambo also urged the Federal Government and security agencies to rise to the challenge, saying that criminal gangs have been allowed to operate unchecked in many parts of the country.

“Enough is enough. These criminals are not faceless. Nigeria cannot continue to normalize bloodshed. We must all collectively say ‘no’ to this culture of silence,” he said.

General Secretary of FEGOKOSA, Binta Mora, appealed directly to Union Bank to support the widow and five children Sulaimo left behind.

“A woman suddenly widowed in today’s Nigeria is facing a very tough reality. Those five children are still in school and need care and attention. We are asking Union Bank to do the right thing — investigate what happened and ensure this family is not abandoned,” Mora said.

According to his widow, Mrs. Talatu Suleiman, the 51-year-old banker left home that morning for official duties covering Zaria, Malumfashi, and Gusau. He never returned.

During the ambush, his driver reportedly escaped into the bush while Suleiman ran toward a nearby town and hid by a mosque. Soldiers were said to have found him and taken him to the hospital, but he was confirmed dead the next day.

When his body was returned, the family discovered a single gunshot wound to his stomach, though some accounts suggested there were three. Personal items, including his phone and ATM card, were missing. His widow described these discrepancies as “suspicious,” saying the story “doesn’t really add up.”

Mrs. Suleiman, who had been married to him for 27 years, said she still expects him to “walk through the door.” She recalled that he was a devoted father of five children aged 10 to 22, a man who supported not only his own family but also others in need. She has called on the government to act decisively against kidnappers and armed gangs so that other families do not suffer similar tragedies.

Adding to the call, a member of the Leadership Committee of Unity Schools Old Students Association, Uchenna Nnoli, said Sulaimo’s killing reflected the growing insecurity that threatens education, business, and national unity.

He said, “The primary duty of any government is to protect its citizens, but the statistics are alarming. According to UN data, violent killings across Nigeria have increased compared to last year, and millions have been displaced as of June 2025.

“Mohammed was a high-profile professional, a product of Nigeria’s public education system, and his death is a major loss to Nigeria’s human capital. If Nigerians can no longer travel safely across the country, the entire idea of unity schools — and even business operations — is under threat.”

Nnoli also reiterated FEGOKOSA’s support for the establishment of state police to enable more localized and effective security responses.

“We urge President Bola Tinubu to push through the state police bill at the National Assembly. The more security agencies we have that understand their local realities, the safer Nigeria will be,” he added.

The alumni association vowed to keep the issue alive in public discourse until Sulaimo’s killers are brought to justice and Union Bank takes steps to protect its staff in high-risk regions.

An executive member of the association, Mr. Wale William, also criticized the bank for failing to publicly acknowledge the tragedy.

He said, “Why would they not use the full weight of their corporate voice? This is a man who had just been promoted to a regional head position. He was deployed to a volatile zone. We expect that an organization as large as Union Bank would issue a media release, at the very least, to honour him and assure the public and their staff that security measures are being taken. The silence shows the height of irresponsibility.”

William also questioned why Sulaimo was left to travel without visible security protection.

“I don’t think any of us believe that a senior officer should be moving around without security stickers or escorts in such a high-risk area. It’s not just about this family; this is about corporate responsibility and showing that employees’ lives matter,” he said. (The PUNCH, excluding headline)

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