The governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, praised the Nigerian Police Force for detaining and securing His Royal Majesty Gung Zaar, Ishaku Komo’s remand order in jail custody.
According to SaharaReporters, Komo, a former air commodore, was held at the Bauchi State Police headquarters on Wednesday following a racial altercation that broke out in Sang village in the state’s Bogoro local government area as a result of the coronation of a Hamlet Head of Sang.
According to a source who spoke to SaharaReporters, security agents frequently harass and threaten Christian chiefs in the state and other regions of Northern Nigeria, using them as proxies of the region’s political leaders, who are mostly Muslims.
Following the February 25 presidential election, it was reported that Muslim governors in the north had intensified their persecution of Christian chiefs, particularly those who resided in areas where Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party, had a sizable majority of the vote.
Governor Bala Mohammed urged the residents of Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas to keep their distance from individuals and groups whose behavior and actions have the potential to pose a threat in response to Komo’s arrest and remand to prison custody. The governor made this request through his Special Adviser, Media Mukhtar Gidado.
“The attention of the Bauchi State Government has been drawn to the activities of some unscrupulous elements whose main objective is to disrupt the hard-won peaceful coexistence prevailing in the state,” the statement’s opening line said in part.
“Part of their stock-in-trade is to enlist unsuspecting members of the public to embark on agitations following the commendable efforts of law enforcement agencies that have arrested one Air Commodore I Komo (Rtd), the self-acclaimed “Gung Zaar,” the Sayawa monarch.
“Government is aware that the timely action by security authorities was aimed at calming down tension in Bogoro Local Government Area and environs where the self- acclaimed monarch has illegally appointed a local chief for Sang Village, which resulted to the disruption of peace by burning of houses and loss of one life.
“Government observed with disdain that the self- acclaimed “Gung Zaar” retired Air Commodore 1. Komo contravenes Chapter 24, sections 3 and 4 of the Appointment and Deposition of chiefs, Law of Bauchi State.
“Government is very aware of its responsibility of protecting lives and properties of all citizens residing in the state as well as the maintenance of law and order. It therefore lauds the prompt action of law enforcement agencies on the arrest of suspects so far and directed that thorough investigation be initiated in conjunction with the office of the State Attorney General with a view to prosecute any person(s) found wanting in connection with this unfortunate incident.
“Government calls on the people of Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas to distance themselves from persons and groups whose conduct and actions are capable of constituting a threat to peaceful and harmonious coexistence amongst our law-abiding citizens.”
