The Wednesday bandits’ attack on the convoy of the Emir of Birnin Gwari, Alhaji Zubairu Jibril Mai Gwari II, a first class monarch in Kaduna State, brought to 32 the number of traditional rulers that have been killed, abducted or attacked in different parts of the north in the last 39 months.
21st Century Chronicle investigations, through analysis of media reports, have shown that within the period under review, 15 traditional rulers were killed, 12 kidnapped and five survived attacks.
Among those killed are the late paramount chief of Adara Chiefdom in Kachia local government area of Kaduna State, Agwan Adara, Maiwada Galadima, in October 2018. He was abducted alongside his wife along Kaduna – Kachia road. A district head of Gidan Zaki, Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State, Haruna Kuye and his son, were slain in November 2020; while another district head of Yantumaki in Danmusa Local Government, Alhaji Maidabino, was killed in November 2020; and the traditional ruler of Mazoji and Sarkin Fulanin Fafu in Matazu local government area of Katsina State, Dikko Usman, was killed in June 2020.
Other fatalities include the traditional ruler of Kundav, Ukum local government area of Benue state, Chief Awua Alabar, in July 2020; traditional ruler of Baranje, Chikun local government area of Kaduna State, Dogara Yahaya, in January 2021, 73-year-old traditional ruler in Adamawa, Alpha Williams, in February 2020; 82-year-old traditional ruler of Gudu, in Gudu local government of Sokoto State, Ibrahim Aliyu, in May 2019; the traditional ruler of Odu in Nasarawa local government area of Nasarawa State, Amos Ewa Obere, in August 2020; a village head of Wereng, in Wereng community of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, Da Chung Gyang Mwadkwon, in October 2020; and the village head of Kusherki in Rafi local government area of Niger State, the Dakacin Kusherki, Alhaji Masud Abubakar, in February 2021.
Also killed was the traditional ruler of Gora Gan village in Zango-Kataf local government area, Kaduna State, in July 2020; district head of Foron, Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau State, Da Bulus Chuwang Jang; in September 2020; a Village Head of Kadunu and Dakacin Langai, Langai District, Pyam Chiefdom, Mangu, Plateau State, HRH. Mamman Bayero, in September 2019; and the Etum Numana in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Gambo Makama, and his wife, in January 2018.
In December 2020, bandits kidnapped a village head in Faskari local government of Katsina State, Malam Falalu Galadima; the district head of Madaka in Rafi local government of Niger State, Malam Zakari Ya’u-Idris. Idris was previously kidnapped in December 2019 and freed after the payment of N4 million ransom.
Also kidnapped was district head of Yakila, in Rafi, Niger State, Abdulhamid Danyaro, in December 2020; and district head of Matseri community, Anka local government area of Zamfara State in November 2020; the Galadiman Kunduru, Kunduru community in Katsina State, 91-year-old Alhaji Ibrahim in February 2021; paramount ruler of Ikulu in Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State, the Agwam Ikulu, Yohanna Sidi Kukah, in January 2018; traditional ruler of Rubochi in Kuje area council of the FCT, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim Pada in November 2019; Eje Ankpa, in Kogi State, Shaibu Usman, in December 2020; the traditional ruler of Long Dorok Chiefdom in Shendam local government area of Plateau State, David Isa in November 2018; as well as the Aron of Uga, in Uga, Lafia local government area of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Magaji in May 2020; the village head of Radda community, in Charanchi Local Government Area of Katsina State, Alhaji Kabir Umar, in January 2021; and the district head of Mashio town in Fune local government area of Yobe State, Alhaji Isa Mai Buba, in August 2020.
Bandits also launched attacks on some traditional rulers who were able to escape within the period under review.
They include the Ohi of Adavi, HRH Alhaji Muhammad Ireyi Bello, who narrowly escaped death in November 2020 after being ambushed by gunmen along Lokoja-Abuja highway; the Emir of Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, Alhaji Sanusi Muhammad Asha, who was enroute Zamfara from Abuja in December 2020; Emir of Potiskum, Yobe State, Umaru Bubaram Ibn Wuriwa Bauya, whose convoy was attacked around Fandatio village, near Mararaban Jos, Kaduna-Zaria high way in January 2020.
In April 2020, the paramount ruler of Yandang Chiefdom, Haniel Banti, also escaped an attack by armed men in Taraba State. He was also attacked on September 2, 2019.
