LEADERSHIP
Leaders of Northern Nigeria have expressed grave concern over the activities of kidnappers who have been targeting traditional rulers.
This is as the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) yesterday condemned the abduction and subsequent murder of the Emir of Gobir in Sokoto State, Alhaji Isa Bawa.
A statement by the spokesperson of the forum, Abdulazeez Suleiman, said the appalling act -perpetrated by bandits – stands not only as a breach of the sanctity of traditional institutions but also as a stark manifestation of the underlying chaos that pervades certain regions in Northern Nigeria.
LEADERSHIP reports that NEF’s pronouncement reflects a deep-seated outrage that resonates with the collective sensibilities of the northern populace, who hold their traditional leaders in high regard.
NEF said the Emir of Gobir’s killing represents more than a mere loss of life; it is a profound attack on cultural heritage, a disregard for customary authority, and a grim reminder of the rampant insecurity that has plagued much of Northern Nigeria.
“This act is both heinous and ruthless and an affront to the reverence traditionally afforded to emirs and the values underpinning the region’s social fabric.
“Traditional rulers in Northern Nigeria symbolise stability, guidance, and communal identity. Their abduction and brutal killing thus send shockwaves through society, unsettling the already fragile trust between the people and the institutions meant to protect them.”
The NEF expressed its condolences to the Sultan of Sokoto, the family of the deceased emir, and the people of Gobir,
It called for justice and demanded that all relevant stakeholders, including government authorities and security agencies, take decisive steps to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice.
It averred that allowing such criminals to escape unpunished would only embolden them, exacerbating the cycle of violence and instability that has become all too common in the region.
It went on: “The criminal acts perpetrated by bandits are not isolated incidents; they form part of a worrying trend of violence and lawlessness that has engendered fear and insecurity in Northern Nigeria. The alarming frequency of kidnappings, robberies, and related atrocities has left communities in a state of despair.
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