Disregard to traditional leaders fuelling insecurity, Zamfara Emirs say

The Chairman, Zamfara State Council of Chiefs and Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Muhammad Ahmad, has said the relegation of traditional rulers and institutions to the background was fuelling insecurity in the country.

The Emir spoke at a retreat on “Interest-based Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution” organised by The Pastoral Resolve (PARE) in Gusau.

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The monarch said traditional leaders were bearing the brunt of the menace because they were close to the people.

“I can tell you that most of us are hypertensive about the current trend of insecurity in the country,” he said.

The Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello, listed ignorance, poverty, discrimination, injustice, favouritism, corruption and disregard for traditional institutions as the cause of insecurity bedeviling the northern region.

He said traditional leaders were afraid to speak the truth because they had no constitutional immunity and could be removed at will by political leaders.

In her submission, the permanent secretary, Kaduna State Peace Commission, Hajiya Khadija Hawaja, said armed criminals were taking the advantage of poverty and drug trafficking ravaging different communities in the north to perpetrate criminalities.