The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) have strongly condemned the brutal killing of Alhaji Isa Mohammed Bawa, the Sarkin Gobir of Sabon Birni in Sokoto State, by bandits,Daily Trust reports.
The traditional ruler was abducted along with his son on August 18 and was later murdered despite demands for ransom.
In separate statements signed by Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, ACF Secretary-General, and Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, NEF Director of Publicity and Advocacy, both groups called for a thorough investigation and a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s national security framework to address the ongoing threats of banditry and terrorism.
The ACF extended heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and associates of the deceased, as well as to the Sokoto State Government and the Sokoto Sultanate Council. The forum called for calm and urged the government, security agencies, traditional rulers, and community leaders to collaborate in preventing further deterioration of law and order.
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ACF stressed the urgency of swift and decisive action to restore peace and reinforce public confidence in the government’s ability to protect its citizens, stating, “The murder of the traditional ruler has heightened concerns about the escalating violence and insecurity in the north, with many calling for a more effective strategy to combat banditry and terrorism.”
Similarly, NEF condemned the assassination of the Emir of Gobir as an attack on cultural heritage, a disregard for customary authority, and a stark reminder of the rampant insecurity that has plagued much of Northern Nigeria.
“This heinous and merciless act is an affront not only to the reverence traditionally afforded to emirs but also to the core values that hold the region’s social fabric together. In Northern Nigeria, traditional rulers symbolize stability, guidance, and communal identity.
“Their abduction and brutal killing send shockwaves through society, further weakening the already fragile trust between the people and the institutions meant to protect them,” the statement added.
The NEF emphasized the need for a comprehensive reevaluation of the security architecture in Northern Nigeria, insisting that “the perpetrators of this act must be brought to justice.”
