The Northern Elders Forum (NEF), led by Professor Ango Abdullahi, has condemned the brutal murder of Alhaji Isa Mohammed Bawa, the Emir of Gobir in Sokoto State, by bandits. The NEF highlighted that this tragic event underscores the severe insecurity plaguing Northern Nigeria.
The Emir was abducted alongside his son on August 18. While his son was eventually freed, the Emir was murdered despite the ransom demands being met. The NEF, through a statement signed by its spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, urged the government to take immediate and rigorous steps to restore peace and security in the region.
“The abduction and murder of the Emir of Gobir serves as a tragic emblem of the crisis facing Northern Nigeria—a crisis that calls for immediate and sustained attention from government authorities, security agencies, traditional institutions, and civil society alike,” the statement read.
The NEF emphasized that those responsible for this heinous crime must not go unpunished. The forum expressed its deep outrage and urged all relevant stakeholders to respond with urgency and resolve to uphold justice. The NEF’s condemnation of the crime reflects the collective outrage of the northern populace, who hold their traditional leaders in high esteem.
The assassination of the Emir of Gobir is seen as more than a loss of life; it is an attack on cultural heritage, a disregard for customary authority, and a grim reminder of the rampant insecurity in Northern Nigeria. The NEF stressed that traditional rulers in Northern Nigeria symbolize stability, guidance, and communal identity, and their brutal killing destabilizes the already fragile trust between the people and their protectors.
The NEF extended its condolences to the Sultan of Sokoto, the family of the deceased Emir, and the people of Gobir, explicitly calling for justice. The forum demanded that government authorities and security agencies take decisive action to bring the perpetrators to justice, warning that allowing such criminals to escape unpunished would only embolden further violence and instability in the region.
The statement also called for a comprehensive reevaluation of the security architecture in Northern Nigeria, emphasizing the need for a holistic strategy that addresses the root causes of insecurity, such as economic disenfranchisement, poverty, and inadequate governance. The NEF urged civil society and community leaders to play an active role in fostering community solidarity and collaborating with security forces to combat crime and lawlessness.
