September 16, (THEWILL) – The Gobir Development Association (GDA) has criticised the Sokoto Sultanate Council for not commiserating with the people of Gobir kingdom, over the recent killing of their Emir, Alhaji Isa Muhammad Bawa, by Fulani bandits.
“The good people of Gobir kingdom condemn and frown at the Sultanate Council of Sokoto’s non-commiseration with them over the late Royal Father’s abduction and subsequent gruesome murder by Fulani bandits.
“We expected the Sultanate Council to commiserate with us over the gruesome murder of our Royal Father by Fulani bandits, unfortunately, it did not do so, so far.
“The late Royal Father, apart from being our Emir, was also a member of the Sultanate Council; so we expected the Council to commiserate with the people of Gobir kingdom and even with itself over the unfortunate incident”, the association said.
The group made the remarks in a Communique produced at the end of its meeting, which was held in Abuja.
The Communique, which was read at the NUJ press centre, Kano, on Monday, by the association’s Spokesman, Prof. Iliyasu Gobir, also accused the Sokoto State Government of not doing enough to secure the release of the late Emir from the clutches of the bandits.
“The efforts made by the Sokoto State Government to secure the release of His Royal Highness after being abducted on his way back home from an official engagement in Sokoto were not enough”, the group said.
It, however, appreciated “the overwhelming condemnation of the Royal Father’s abduction and subsequent gruesome murder by Fulani bandits by all good people from all walks of life.”
The association also acknowledged the recent military operations that led to the neutralisation of the bandits’ kingpin, Halilu Sububu, and urged the Federal and Sokoto State Governments to intensify the onslaught so as to record more successes.
“Both Sokoto State and the Federal Governments are hereby called upon to sustainably intensify these military operations so as to permanently solve the Fulani banditry activities in the Northwest in general and Sokoto East in particular”, the group added.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
