Sokoto State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Alkali Argungu has paid a monitoring visit to Gatawa community in Sabon Birni local government area of Sokoto State with a view to dousing palpable tension in the local government area where the youths had trooped out to protest the gruesome murder of their traditional ruler, Isa Muhammad Bawa, by bandits.

Recall People’s Security Monitor reported how the District Head was killed before the ransom and other items demanded by the bandits, who abducted him, could get to them on Wednesday.

During his visit, Commandant Argungu explained to community leaders in the community that his mission in the community was to ensure that the youths protest was managed within the ambience of law and order so that it would not be hijacked by miscreants.

”Yes of course, the youths of Gatawa have every right to express their feelings about the cruel murder of their traditional ruler, but we are duty bound to ensure the sanctity of law and order so that the protest would not throw the ancient town into additional crisis. We are not ruling out the nefarious act of the disgruntled elements who perhaps would want to explore the protest to throw the community into additional crisis. Much as we are saddened by this unfortunate and tragic event, we should all be conscious of the criminals amongst us.” said Commandant Argungu.

”I’m praying fervently to almighty Allah to help change the minds of the criminals in the country to positive reasoning, so that they can desist from their heinous activities for the security and betterment of the country, but if they refuse, we shall be fully out to wipe them out for peace to reign in our country. This is a sad event in the history of our country, particularly the ancient city of the Sokoto, we are saddened and mourning.

Again, permit me to express my condolences on behalf of the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi to Sokoto State government, the Gatawa Community and the entire family members of the murdered traditional ruler. May almighty Allah console them. I pray that the almighty Allah would grant the soul of the departed traditional rule aljanah firdaus.” Commandant Argungu prayed.

It will be recalled that shortly after funeral prayer was held in the monarch’s honour in Gatawa town on Thursday, some youths within the community immediately embarked on protest, chanting anti-government slogans.

They alleged that the state government did not do enough to ensure the monarch was rescue alive.

They also pointed accusing fingers at some political leaders, especially those from Sabon Birni local government area, alleging that they deliberately allowed the district head, who is also known as Sarki Gobir, to suffer in the hands of the kidnappers before he was killed.

Recall that the district head had in a viral video released a few days before he was pronounced dead on Wednesday night, appealed to the state government, friends and well-wishers to save his life by paying the ransom demanded by his abductors.

In the 59-second-long video released by bandits, the 74-year-old monarch was pleading to all concerned to save his life from the hands of his abductors.

He said, “I want to call on my people, my lovers, my friends and my leaders to know that it has gotten to the end today, Wednesday.

“So if they want to help me, they should do so, I swear to Allah, this people too are tired of us, they have done all they could do but the government did not help us.

“I have been appealing to the government to help me but they didn’t, and I am their worker over the years. I have been working for the state government.”

When contacted about the protest, the spokesman of the Nigerian Force, Sokoto State Sommand, ASP Ahmed Rufai, said the command was on top of the situation.

The PPRO said, “we have prepared ahead for this as it was revealed through intelligence. Since morning when the funeral prayer was about to be conducted, the command has dispatched a tactical team from four local governments close to Sabon Birnin to join the team in the local government.

“We are already taking control of the protest to ensure it doesn’t lead to crisis.”