Monarch’s Murder: Sokoto Govt Still Mum, As Police Arrests Protesters

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed that it has rounded up some individuals suspected to be involved in the violent protest that trailed the abduction and subsequent death of the District Head of Gatawa in Sabon Birnin Local council of the State.

The Source reports that a spate of violent protests greeted the announcement of the murder of Alhaji Isah Muhammed, the District Head, in the kidnapers den on Wednesday August 21.

The Traditional Ruler was in July, abducted alongside his son Kabiru Isah, by some suspected bandits on their way to Gatawa from Sokoto town.

But while his son bought his freedom with a whopping sum of N60 million, the heavy ransom placed on his father’s could not be  met before he was killed by his kidnapers.

The subsequent protest by angry youths of the domain led to the destruction of many public properties, including the All Progressive Congress APC Sabon Birnin Local Government Headquarters.

A dusk to dawn curfew was on Thursday, August 22, imposed by the Sokoto State Government to contain the situation.

In a statement issued on Saturday, August 24, by the Deputy Spokesperson for the Command, Mohammed Isah,  ASP, the police  warned that it will not sit idly and watch some hoodlums disrupt the peace of the state under any guise.

According to the statement, the protesters set ablaze a 25 unit Housing Estate sited in the area for the purpose of accommodating  Government officials posted to the Local Council for service .

He insisted that the police authorities in the State are ever ready to visit the full weight of the law on persons or groups found to be culpable in the violent protest.

He stated that the State Police Command will carry out a comprehensive investigation to fish out those behind the destruction of public properties in the area.

The Police anti-riot squad, according to the statement, has been deployed to the troubled area to maintain peace and order.

The police spokesman urged law abiding residents of the area to go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation or intimidation.

Curiously, as at the time of reporting, the Sokoto State Government was yet to react, officially, to the fate that befell   the District Head .

Barau Isah, son of the late Monarch  has  been pointing accusing fingers at a member of the State Legislative Body for his father’s abduction.

Despite wide spread indignation and condemnation provoked by the gruesome murder of the Royal Father, not a few are  surprised that the State Government is  yet to respond, beyond the imposition of curfew in the affected area.