By Suleiman Anyalewechi
For days he had remained in the shadows. For days too, he had kept mute over allegations of being the unseen hand behind the abduction, and subsequent killing of Alhaji Isah Mohammed Bawa, the District Head of Gatawa Sabon Birnin Sokoto state.
But on Sunday, August 25, 2024, the Lawmaker representing Sabon Birnin North at the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Hon. Boza, finally opened up, and distanced himself from the gruesome act.
The Source reports that the Royal Father and his son, Barau Isah, were mid- July kidnapped on their way back to his domain from Sokoto, the State capital, by some suspected bandits.
Weeks later, Barau, his son, secured his freedom with a staggering N60 million ransom paid. But the haughty amount placed on the head of his father – one billion Naira – delayed his rescue.
The Monarch was pronounced dead in the abductors den last Wednesday. That was after he had passionately and desperately, but fruitlessly sort help from different quarters, including the Sokoto state Government to meet the demands of his captors.
His son, after his freedom, told the world that his ordeal and that of his father was orchestrated by a sitting legislator.
However, Hon. Boza in a short audio statement,
also, strongly rejected any links with banditry elements in the State.
He pleaded his innocence in the events that culminated in the unfortunate end of the District Head,
noted that he has been at the forefront of efforts to combat banditry and other forms of criminal activities in the Sabon Birnin axis in particular and the State in general.
In the audio statement, the Lawmaker also vowed to continue to collaborate in the battle against insurgency and banditry in the State not minding the recent travails.
“I understand that fighting the bandits will not be easy, but if it will cost my life, I will be at peace knowing that I did everything to satisfy my conscience
“I want to make it clear to the whole world that these allegations will never deter me from from fighting against banditry .
“As I have always said, we need to unite and eliminate these bandits to achieve lasting peace”, Hon Boza noted
But how Boza’s denial will go in persuading the global audience in the face of the damning revelations by Barau, the son of the late District Head, remains debatable.
For one, Barau had claimed in his own video that the bandits, before letting him off the hook, informed him that the Lawmaker recruited them during the countdown to the 2023 elections.
He, also, stated that the bandits claimed that the legislator, after the election, has continued to finance their operations, including the abduction of the Monarch.
“The Bandits told me directly that Aminu Boza was the one who gave them the guns to kidnap us.
“They said they received the weapons during the campaign period and explained that although they did not know my father, they were paid N5 million to abduct him”, Barau alleged.
In all of these claims and counterclaims, the Sokoto State Government has ominously remained silent.
