Gombe State To Pay Victims Of Billiri Royal Throne Crisis Over N531m As Compensation
BY WILLIAM ATTAH, GOMBE – An Assessment committee set up by the Gombe State Government following the crisis that engulfed the Billiri Royal throne in the State early this year, has disclosed that eight lives were lost in addition to property worth N531,358,468.00 destroyed.
The Assessment Committee which submitted its report, stated that no fewer than 51 persons sustained various degrees of injuries during the mayhem.
Violence erupted after some concerned people suspected that the State Government was about to subvert their choice of a new Mai Tangle following days of silence by the State Government after the election by the kingmakers.
The development resulted to rising tension which degenerated to a full scale violence on Friday 19th February, 2021.
Rising from its State Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, the State Government said it is looking at the possibility of compensating those who were badly affected by the crisis.
The State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr. Julius Ishaya, told newsmen that a five man committee made up of four commissioners and the Chairman of Billiri Local Government Council, Margaret Bitrus, was formed to look at ways of compensating the victims.
According to the report of the assessment committee which the State Executive Council ratified during the meeting, 41 houses worth over N94,666,000.00 were destroyed.
The report also stated that 401 cooperate business places, 335 individual business places as well as 66 others belonging to Billiri Local Government valued at N148,135,000.00 were also destroyed.
He further said that 33 worship centres worth over N33,129,000.00 and other property such as cars, animals among others worth over N31,480,000.00 million were destroyed, making a total sum of N542,258,468.00.
Ishaya said the Council mandated the five man committee to proffer ways of generating funds to compensate the victims including the Local Government Council whose property were also destroyed.
