The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has said it received news of the callous murder of Alhaji Isa Mohammed Bawa, Sarkin Gobir, the District Head of Gatawa, Sokoto State with much sadness, calling on the federal government to embark on total overhauling of security architecture in the country.
It will be recalled that the traditional ruler and his son, were earlier abducted on Saturday, August 18th, 2024, by bandits. who demanded a huge ransom, as they are wont to these days.
ACF in a statement signed by Prof. TA Muhammad-Baba, its National Publicity Secretary said it understands that while efforts were being made to meet the demands, the bandits got impatient, subjected the traditional ruler to torture and eventually murdered him.
ACF extends heart-felt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased traditional ruler, as well as to the Sokoto State Government, the Sokoto Sultanate Council and the Council and people of Sabon Birni Local Government Area. ACF calls for calm and enjoins the Government of Sokoto State, security agencies, traditional rulers and leaders of thought to move swiftly to calm frayed nerves and ensure that the gory incident does not lead to further breakdown of law and order.
While further details of the dastardly act are being awaited, ACF calls for thorough investigations into the circumstances of the sordid incident it is totality.
ACF also reiterates its call, for the umpteenth time, for a thorough overhaul of Nigeria’s National Security Architecture so that the scourge of banditry and terrorism is most effectively terminated. Clearly, the current approach is yet to yield the needed results. Incidents such as the abduction and murder of the traditional ruler as well as other abductions in recent times, are poignant indicators of the fact that the problem is spreading. To state it simply, banditry must be truncated before it totally cripples Nigeria. For now, Arewa, in particular, is on its knees on account of banditry and terrorism. The Federal Government must act swiftly to restore peace and the peoples’ trust and confidence.
