Boko Haram: Emir of Suleja indicted, queried
From AKIN ALOFETEKUN, Minna
Thursday, January 05, 2012

Indications have emerged that security reports indicted the Emir of Suleja, Alhaji Awal Ibrahim in whose domain the Boko Haram sect had detonated bomb five times last year alone. As a prelude, the Niger State Government has issued the Emir a query, asking him to defend his non-challant attitude to the issues of bomb blast in his domain, especially the ones that affected churches.

The Emir might be the first casualty as the Niger State Government is set to get to the root of the series of bomb blasts that rocked his emirate in the last eight months. Not less than five bomb blasts took place in the emirate within the period, the last being that at the St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Mandalla on Christmas Day which left over 38 people dead, 80 injured 36 houses and 4 churches burnt in addition to the destruction of 7 vehicles.

On New Year’s Day, the state government issued the Emir of Suleja with a query over his lack of show of sympathy with victims of the bomb blast which occurred in his area one week before. According to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs who briefed the media yesterday, the government found out that despite the retinue of people that visited the victims and the bomb blast sites from across the country to show sympathy, the traditional ruler neither sent words to them nor visited the area.

As a result, the commissioner said the government felt the action of the monarch was unbecoming of a person of high standing in the society and therefore issued him a query to explain within 24 hours, why actions should not be taken against him for such behaviour.“Government in the state has discovered lapses on the part of the Emir of Suleja and has therefore issued him with a query.” The commissioner however said that the traditional ruler replied the query within the stipulated period and government is looking into it.

Alhaji Bawa Wuse said the state government welcomed the declaration of state of emergency in Suleja town and therefore asked the people to cooperate with law enforcement agencies deployed to the area to maintain law and order. He however said that the state of emergency did not cover the entire state as being peddled in some quarters, asking the people to go about their normal businesses. Speaking at the same media briefing, the Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Danladi Abdulhamid expressed satisfaction of the State Executive Council (SEC) to the proactive measures taken by Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu which he said has assisted in dousing tension in Suleja area.

“Government is appealing to the people to go about their normal activities without hindrance, as the law enforcement agents in the state have been adequately mobilized to provide adequate security for lives and property.”

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2012/jan/05/newsbreak-05-01-2012-001.html

Emir of Suleja Shuns Christmas Blast Victims

05 Jan 2012

Font Size: a / A
25DEC-bomb-blast8.jpg - 25DEC-bomb-blast8.jpg

St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla

By Aisha Wakaso and Yemi Akinsuyi

The Niger State Government has queried the Emir of Suleja, Malam Awal Ibrahim, for failing to sympathise with the victims of Christmas Day blast which took place in his domain.

Ibrahim, a former governor of the state, was queried on New Year Day by the government for not showing sympathy for the victims of the bomb blast which claimed 42 lives.

The government action was announced by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Abdullahi Bawa Wuse, at a press briefing yesterday.

He said the state government felt the action of the monarch was unbecoming “of a person of high standing in the society”.

Ibrahim was asked to explain within 24 hours why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for his behaviour.
The commissioner however said that the traditional ruler replied the query within the stipulated period and “the government is looking into it”.

The emir failed to visit St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla where the blast wreaked havoc, neither did he visit families of the victims.

“The government found out that despite the retinue of people that visited the victims and the bomb blast sites from across the country to show empathy with them the traditional ruler neither sent words to them nor visited the area,” Wuse said.

Apart from the deaths, 80 persons were injured, 36 houses and four churches burnt and seven vehicles were destroyed.

The fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, claimed responsibility for the bombing and later asked Christians and Southerners to leave the North ahead of its planned further attacks.

Inspector General of Police (IG) Hafiz Ringim Wednesday called on Christians and Southerners to ignore the threat.

The terrorist sect was reported to have given a three-day ultimatum last Sunday through their spokesman, Abdul Qaqa.

In a release signed by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer (DFPRO), Mr. Yemi Ajayi, a Chief Superintendent of Police, the IG warned all dissident/terrorist groups or individuals, by whatever identity and guise, to note that from the pre-colonial days, the police had always been at the forefront in wielding and keeping this country as one.

He assured Nigerians that the force was resolved more than ever before to keep that mandate.

He said: “The attention of the Inspector-General of Police Hafiz A. Ringim has been drawn to publications in various Nigerian national dallies of alleged threat by a terrorist sect against Christians and Southerners resident in the northern part of the country as well as Muslims and other Northerners resident in the South of Nigeria.

“The Nigeria Police Force will not tolerate discriminatory and unpatriotic acts of threat and criminality against innocent, peace-loving and law-abiding citizens irrespective of their tribe, creed, religion and location.

“Nigeria is one united and indivisible entity where citizens are at liberty to reside where they desire and practise whatever faith. The Constitution of the land guarantees these fundamental rights.”

Ringim said the police owed the citizens the responsibility to protect lives and property and assured them that it would dutifully accomplish this within the dictates of the law.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/emir-of-suleja-shuns-christmas-blast-victims/106477/