The Elders of Gobir Kingdom have called on the federal and Sokoto State governments to as matter of urgency secure the release of the body of the murdered Sarkin Gobir, Alhaji Isa Muhammad Bawa, who was killed by bandits on 27th July, 2024.
The Gobir elders who spoke to newsmen at the Kano NUJ Press Center on Monday, frowned at the inability of the government to secure the release of the body of their king.
Reading a communique signed by the Gobir Development Association (GDA) at a meeting on 7th September 2024, Professor Illiyasu Yusuf Gobir, the spokesperson of the group, who spoke alongside Alhaji Idris Alhassan Gatawa, the Chairman, and Prof. Yakubu Aliyu Gobir, Secretary, accused the Sultan of Sokoto of refusing to commiserate with the Gobir people on the death of the king.
“The good people of Gobir Kingdom condemns and frowns 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,” he said.
In the same vein, Illiyasu noted that “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 was not enough”.
He said that the people of Gobir Kingdom appreciates the overwhelming condemnation of the late monarch’s abduction and subsequent gruesome murder by Fulani bandits.
He said while acknowledging the recent military operations that led to the annihilation of one of the Fulani bandits kingpin, Halilu Sububu, “both Sokoto State and Federal Government are hereby called upon to sustainably intensify these military operations so as permanently solve the Fulani banditry activities in North-West in general and Sokoto East in particular”.
“Both Sokoto State and Federal Governments are hereby called upon to as a matter of urgency address the plight of the teaming population of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) occasioned by the increased incessant Fulani banditry activities in Sokoto East in general and Sabon Birni Local Government in particular.
“We the Gobir Elders appreciates the maturity and calmness with which the good people of Gobir Kingdom have reacted to their late Royal Father’s abduction and subsequent gruesome murder by Fulani bandits and calls on them to continue in this manner,” the communique added.
They urged Hausas in general and the Gobir people in particular to exercise maturity and restraint in the face of provocation for peace to reign.
Calling on the government to “do the needful to ensure that the spate of senseless and wanton killings and abductions are brought to a decisive end”, the elders added, “Our patience is fast running out”.
Kinsmen ask FG, Sokoto Govt to secure release of body of murdered Sarkin Gobir