The Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has expressed grief over the death of novelist and retired civil servant Bello Musa Dankano, who died on Sunday at the age of 71 in Malumfashi, according to a government statement issued on Tuesday.
Dankano, born in 1950 in Malumfashi, was described by the governor as a prominent figure in both public service and Northern Nigerian literature.
In the statement, Radda said the late writer dedicated his life to governance and literary excellence, noting that his works reflected socio-political realities in Nigeria.
According to the governor, Dankano served as Secretary to the Katsina State Government, Commissioner for Information, Home Affairs and Culture, and as a speechwriter to successive administrations.
He said Dankano’s dual career in civil service and literature left a lasting impact on governance and the literary community.
The governor also highlighted some of his published works, including A Season of Locusts, Petrol Station, My Cousins and I, and The Last Caravan and Other Short Stories, describing them as significant contributions to Nigerian literature.
Radda extended condolences to the District Head of Malumfashi and Galadiman Katsina, Justice Sadiq Abdullahi Mahuta, the royal family, and the people of Malumfashi.
He prayed for forgiveness for the deceased and strength for his family and the wider community to bear the loss.
