The Government of Zamfara State, northwest of Nigeria, has deposed the Emir of Zurmi, Atiku Muhammadu, and the Emir of Dansadau, Hussaini Umar, over their alleged links with bandits unleashing terror on the State.
Also dethroned is the district head of Birnin Tsaba, Sulaiman Ibrahim, for the same alleged offence.
Babangida Zurmi, the press secretary to the deputy governor, said the decision was taken Wednesday evening following the recommendations of a whitepaper by a committee on insecurity in the state.
In 2021, the government suspended two Emirs who were accused of frustrating efforts to arrest suspected bandits and aiding cattle rustlers.
Zamfara, like other areas in Nigeria’s north-west region, is convulsing under the attacks by gunmen locally called bandits who attack mostly rural communities and travellers.
These bandits have been blamed for killing thousands of people. They have also abducted many more in what is shaping to become one of the worst kidnap-for-ransom syndicates in the history of Nigeria.
The news of the sack of the emirs came weeks after the governor came under criticism for distributing 260 luxury cars including 17 Cadillac escalades to the traditional rulers.
During a ceremony to distribute the cars to the traditional rulers, the governor said the car gifts were part of the efforts of the state government to solve the lingering security challenges in the state.
The dethroned traditional rulers were first suspended in June last year. They were charged to court this month but the judge refused to read the charges against them. He advised the state government to rewrite the charges against the emirs.
Following the court appearance, on Monday, the committee set up by the government to investigate allegations of aiding and abetting banditry submitted its report to the state government.
