Elders of the Tangale Community of Billiri Local Government of Gombe State have faulted the decision of the government to employ local warriors to handle security in the town.
They said they do not need the services of the Yan-Tauri since they have their own local vigilantes recognised by the government.
The community also requested the State Police Command to transfer the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for an alleged exhibition of religious biases in the course of duty.
Addressing a press conference yesterday in Bauchi, a member of the Tangale Community Board of Trustee, Dr. Daniel Maddu, said that the elders noted the involvement of a security outfit called Yan-Tauri from a different local government to manage security in Billiri LGA.
“This is illegal and we demand their immediate removal since we have our own vigilante group duly recognised by the government
“Also the DPO Billiri Division of the Nigerian Police Force has shown himself to be a religious bigot through the attitude he has exhibited to issues and our people. To this end, we recommend his immediate transfer by the Commissioner of Police,” Maddu said.
Madu also said the forum observed with dismay the compensation paid by government in respect of properties lost during the recent crisis in the town.
“Most disturbing and unheard of in governance was the resolve by the state government that 80 per cent of the bill for this compensation would be borne by Billiri Local Government Council.
In effect, therefore, the government had found the people of Billiri Local Government guilty before receiving the report of his own commission of inquiry and gave them collective punishment.
Maddu further disclosed that the forum noted the invitation and visit of a delegation, said to be members of Kano State Business Community by Malam Danladi Sanusi Maiyamba (formerly Danladi Maishanu) to reconstruct the Billiri Kantoma Market razed down by fire following the February 19 mayhem, which occurred over the appointment to the Mai Tangle stool.
When contacted, the Director General of Media and Information, Gombe State, Samaila Uba Misilli said the allegations were ‘baseless’.
“All these issues have been thrashed before. The issue of who emerged as the Mai has been thrashed. The governor made the decision based on the extant law of the land.”
Responding on the compensation of victims of Billiri mayhem, Misilli said that the compensation formula for the Billiri crisis was approved by the State Executive Council.
“That was done to those who lost their lives, property, places of worship and the rest. We have always been saying that people should maintain peace, if peace has been maintained there wouldn’t have been any reason for the government to use the state resources for crisis management. These are some of the consequences now,” he said.
He advised the elders to check the chieftaincy law to know where the power of a governor permits him to act. “They should also check out the power of the kingmakers. These allegations they are raising have been thrashed out long ago.”
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