Yunusa Ahmadu Yusuf, popularly known as Buhun Barkonun, a famous critic of the #EndSARS protests in October 2020, has died after a sexual enncounter with a woman in Abuja hotel.
The #EndSARS movement, which lasted over 14 days in 2020 across major Nigerian cities, demanded the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a division of the Nigerian police known for its brutality, extrajudicial killings, and corruption.
The protest, which initially began as a social media campaign, escalated dramatically, taking a tragic turn on October 20, 2020, when Nigerian security forces allegedly opened fire on unarmed demonstrators at the Lekki Toll Gate, sparking global outrage and widespread denials from the government.
Yusuf, who served as the Senior Special Assistant on Community Development to the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, reportedly died days after lodging in the hotel on Tuesday, September 8, 2025, in the Karu-Jikwoyi area of the Federal Capital Territory.
According to SaharaReporters, Yusuf, 47, checked into the hotel with a woman identified as Ruth. During his stay, he declined meals but consumed large quantities of alcohol.
On the morning of his death, Ruth allegedly purchased an energy drink for him after noticing his deteriorating condition. Shortly after taking it, Yusuf collapsed into a coma.
Hotel staff and Ruth rushed him to a nearby hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police have since opened an investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding his sudden death.
Yusuf, widely known as Buhun Barkonun (AMAC), was known as one of the top that opposed the #EndSARS protests against police brutality in the Federal Capital Territory.
In October 2020, Yunusa Ahmadu Yusuf, in a letter addressed to then-Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, urged #EndSARS protesters to vacate major roads in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He argued that the demonstrations were disrupting economic and social activities in Abuja.
Speaking on behalf of the Indigenous people of the FCT, Yusuf conveyed their frustration, warning that they were on the verge of losing their temper.
While expressing anger over the deaths recorded during the protests, the group also lamented the wider impact of the road blockages, noting that farm produce was rotting and daily wage earners were being starved of income as customers could no longer access them.
In a Facebook post on October 22, 2020, Yusuf claimed the protest had been hijacked.
“#IStandWithMyOpinion the #EndSARS protest have been hijacked and it’s now invoking security situation and we cannot destroy the peace and unity in FCT because we don’t have anywhere else to go. If you want to invoke security tension we will not support,” he wrote.
Yusuf also gave the protesters a 48-hour ultimatum to vacate the roads of the capital territory.
In a video attached to the post, Yusuf spoke about his earlier ultimatum, saying, “Let me also say the ultimatum that my group gave was 48 hours and the 48 hours just elapsed yesterday before the minister have bound all protests and all that.
He argued that the #EndSARS protests had been hijacked and called for a re-strategy if they were to continue.
While affirming his passion for Nigeria, he compared the situation to past movements, warning that, like Boko Haram, such actions could spiral beyond control. He acknowledged that some protests in the past had made him proud, such as the Bring Back Our Girls campaign.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, has expressed deep sorrow over the sudden death of his aide.
In a statement released on Saturday through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Kingsley Madaki, Maikalangu described the late Yunusa as a dedicated public servant and a vital bridge builder whose contributions to community development were invaluable.
He extended his condolences to Yunusa’s family, friends, associates, colleagues, and the residents of the FCT over what he called an immense loss.
