There was a tragedy on Wednesday afternoon as the news broke that Sarkin Gobir, Alhaji Isa Muhammad Bawa had been murdered by bandits who held him captive for more than a month.
The slain monarch was shown in a viral video a few days ago appealing to the government to facilitate his release from the kidnappers’ den in an undisclosed forest.
He was also seen in the video to have sustained injuries from beating by his captors and saying the rogues gave a one-day request for the payment of his ransom or they killed him.
However, on Wednesday noon, he was reported to have been killed by the bandits, as disclosed to DW radio by his son Alhaji Shu’aibu Gwanda Gobir, as monitored by our correspondent.
Shu’aibu, who holds the traditional title of ‘Magajin Garin Gobir’ (Mayor of Gobir Municipal), told the media outlet that the bandits agreed to free the late conventional ruler in exchange for an N60 million ransom.
He said, however, that as the money was raised two days ago, they received a call that he was killed. Hence, they did not take the money to them.