Bogoro, Tafawa Balewa women, youths demand leader’s release

Protesters, mostly women and youth have in their large numbers, staged a peaceful demonstration recently in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State demanding the immediate release of Gung Zaar-select, retired Air Commodore Ishaku Komo.

The Gung Zaar-select who is highly respected by Zaar/Sayawa ethnic group in Bauchi and beyond was said to have been arrested and detained by the Bauchi State Police Command in connection to a bloody clash that emanated from coronation of a hamlet head he allegedly performed in Sang community of Tafawa Balewa Local Government.

According to Police Crime Bulletin made available to newsmen by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, Retired Air Commodore Ishaku Komo, alongside others are being investigated over the clash which led to loss of one life and valuables destroyed. 

On Saturday, youths in Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Government Areas of Bauchi State embarked on a peaceful demonstration over the arrest and detention of the traditional leader by the BauchiSstate Police Command.

Our correspondent in Bauchi reports that the express road linking Bauchi State with Plateau in the area was blocked by the protesters who were peaceful over the continued detention of their monarch.

The police said, so far, seven people including Ishaku Komo have been arrested for investigation on Sang communal clash in Bogoro Local Government.

In reaction to the incident, Bauchi State government through the Special Adviser on Media to the governor, Comrade Mukhtar Gidado, said the state government under the watch of Governor Bala Mohammed is determined to ensure lasting peace and harmonious coexistence among the various heterogeneous ethnic and religious groups in the affected areas of Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Government Areas of the state.

Mukhtar said in that regard, the present administration has established a proper mechanism that will lead to the creation of a Sayawa Chiefdom that would be acceptable and embraced by all stakeholders for peace to reign in the affected areas.

A press statement signed by Mukhtar Gidado further noted that Bala Mohammed has in consultations with key and relevant stakeholders, established a committee to suggest to government the modalities for the implementation of the reports of Justice Babalakin, Shehu Awak, Justice Bala Umar commissions of enquiry as well as the Bauchi State House of Assembly Law on the creation of the Sayawa Chiefdom.