Matawalle reinstates Emir suspended for turbanning bandit kingpin

Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, has approved the reinstatement of the Emir of Yandoto, Aliyu Marafa, who was suspended for conferring a traditional title on a bandits’ commander.

In July 2022, the monarch, in a well-publicised ceremony, bestowed the traditional title of Sarki Fulani on Ado Aleiro, one of the bandits’ commanders in the state.

The Emir asserted that he decided to give the title to the kingpin as part of the peace-building effort by his emirate.

But the move did not go down well with the citizens, both within and outside the state, forcing the government to constitute a committee to investigate the action of the Emir.

Besides, in a statement, yesterday, issued by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Kabir Balarabe, noted that the traditional ruler was reinstated following the recommendation of the committee that investigated his role and cleared him.

The statement reads: “Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mohammed Matawalle (Shatiman Sokoto), has approved the reinstatement of Alh. Aliyu Garba Marafa as the Emir of Birnin Yandoto.

“His reinstatement is based on the recommendations of the committee constituted to investigate all issues pertaining to the conferment of a traditional title to a repentant bandit, Ado Aleiru. The committee found no evidence of any ill motive or collaboration between the Emir and the bandit.

“Based on the findings of the committee, the traditional title was conferred on the repentant bandit as part of peace-building efforts between the repentant bandit and banditry-affected communities in Tsafe and Gusau local councils, which include Yandoto town.”

According to him, the reinstatement takes immediate effect.