Banditry: Zamfara Govt Sacks 2 Emirs, District Head
For their alleged involvement in supporting and promoting the activities of bandits, Zamfara Government has dethroned the Emir of Zurmi, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his Dansadau counterpart, Alhaji Hussaini Umar.
Similarly, the State government’s punitive axe has also fallen on the District Head of Birnin Tsaba, in Zurmi Local Government Area, Alhaji Suleiman Ibrahim, for the same offence.
Announcing their removal at a news conference after the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting on Wednesday, the Zamfara State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara, said the government action was based on its approval of “a committee’s recommendation for the dethronement of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the first-class Emir of Zurmi, in Zurmi Local Government Area.
“Council also adopted the committee’s report and approved the removal of Alhaji Husseini Umar, a second-class Emir of Dansadau, in Maru Local Government Area.
“It also approved the removal of Alhaji Suleiman Ibrahim, District Head of Birnin Tsaba, in Zurmi Local Government Area.”
According to the Commissioner, with its zero tolerance for abuse of office, the government could not turn a blind eye to the indictment of both royal fathers and the community leader by two committees set up to investigate them.
The State government had earlier suspended the three culprits from office in June 2021 and in the process set up the two committees to investigate them following their alleged involvement in banditry and land racketeering in their respective domains.
They were also placed under house arrest for the period the investigation lasted. Headed by a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police and Commissioner for Security, Alhaji Mamman Tsafe, both Committees recently submitted their findings to the state government for further action.
Upon receipt of the report, Governor Bello Matawalle-led administration set up a White Paper committee to review the recommendations which eventually resulted in the SEC upholding the outcome of the White paper for the dethronement of both traditional rulers and the District head.
The Government has also gazetted the Committee’s recommendations as approved by the SEC meeting presided over by the State Acting Governor, Alhaji Hassan Nasiha.