Mystery in Kanko Community: Man Believed Dead Returns Home After 43 Years
By Abu Yusrah.
In a bizarre and mystifying turn of events, a man long believed to be dead has reportedly returned to his native community, sparking astonishment and intense discussion among residents of Kanko in the Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The man, known in the community as “Man Ali”, is the son of the elder brother of Alhaji Ndako, a respected figure in the area. Originally from Emi Ndako Gana in Kanko, Man Ali was thought to have died in the town of Bida in 1982.
However, in an unexpected reappearance during the recently concluded Ramadan season of 2025, he has returned, now going by the name Baba Bida—a name he claims to have adopted following his death in Bida.
According to eyewitness accounts and the man’s own testimony, shortly after his burial in 1982, he and two others—whose identities remain unknown—found themselves sitting beside a mosque in a trance-like state.
During this experience, they encountered an elderly man with white hair, holding a rosary and a kettle. This man reportedly offered them kolanuts, which he split into three parts. Upon consuming the kolanuts, the trio lost all memory of their previous lives and wandered off into the bush.
Baba Bida stated that he initially returned to Kanko shortly after this strange encounter but chose to leave again due to the overwhelming curiosity and questions from people who recognized him.
He promised to return on his own terms, which he did, reappearing again on the third day after his initial disappearance.
Upon his return during Ramadan 2025, he revealed shocking details: he had secretly been living in the community for sixteen years without anyone noticing.
He recalled working as a conductor for a local transporter named Yandana, who had once bought a commercial bus. During this time, he claimed that no one in the community recognized him, despite his presence.
He also recounted that the first person to identify him after his alleged death was a man named Magawata, who reportedly attempted to conceal the situation by taking him out of the community.
Following that period, Baba Bida explained that he relocated to northern Nigeria, where he spent seven years working in the timber trade, transporting logs from forests to cities like Kano and Zaria.
He shared that during one of these journeys, he was involved in a road accident with two colleagues—one from Niger State and another from Gboro (whom he identified as Baba Tsowa). Only he and Baba Tsowa survived the crash.
The two men continued working together until one day, after resting in a town, Baba Tsowa mysteriously vanished and never returned. Baba Bida claimed he waited for him until the following day before he resumed his wandering lifestyle—moving from town to town and city to city—until he eventually made his way back home to Kanko.
This strange tale, rooted in spiritual mystery, local legend, and personal testimony, has captivated the people of Kanko and beyond. While many residents remain skeptical, others are convinced that this man is indeed the same Man Ali thought to have died over four decades ago.
Community leaders are currently deliberating on how to handle the situation as the story continues to attract attention from neighboring towns and curious visitors.
