Northern Elders condemn killing of Emir Of Gobir

Arewa Groups Demand Action, Accountability From Governors 

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF), on Friday, unequivocally condemned the abduction and subsequent murder of the Emir of Gobir, Alhaji Isa Muhammad. The forum said that the appalling act, carried out by bandits, represents not only a breach of the sanctity of traditional institutions, but also a stark manifestation of the chaos affecting parts of Northern Nigeria.
 
NEF, in a statement by its Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, expressed deep outrage that resonates with the collective sensibilities of the northern populace, who hold their traditional leaders in high regard.
 
The NEF sent its condolences to the Sultan of Sokoto, the family of the deceased emir, and the people of Gobir; and explicitly called for justice.  Suleiman said: “The Emir of Gobir’s assassination 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, merciless, as well as an affront not only to the reverence traditionally accorded to emirs but also to the very values that underpin the social fabric of the region. 
 
“For us in Northern Nigeria, traditional rulers 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 forum, therefore, demanded that all relevant stakeholders, including government authorities and security agencies, should take decisive steps to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to justice. 
 
Similarly, The Rebuild Arewa Initiative For Development (RAID) and the Northern Consensus Movement (NCM), on Friday, condemned the heinous crime, urging governors in the Northern region to wake up to their responsibilities.
 
They also called on the Federal Government to evolve new strategies to secure lives and property, noting that Nigeria could not grow under the current conditions. 
  
The President of RAID, Balarabe Rufai, disclosed this in Abuja at a press briefing, observing with dismay the wanton killing of innocent citizens and traditional rulers in the region by criminal elements.
  
While advocating for peace, unity and development of the Northern region, they condemned the act and felt disappointed in how Sokoto State government has handled the matter lackadaisical and unprofessionally, which led to the killing of the monarch.

The group urged the Minister of Defence, Minister of Defence for State, and heads of security organisations to double their efforts in restoring security in the North.