Two first-class monarchs in Borno State have been kidnapped by members of the Boko Haram terrorist group.
According to reports, members of the sect members stormed the palace of the Emir of Gwoza, Idrisa Timta, and his counterpart, the Emir of Uba, Ismaila Mamza on Friday.
Reports said the incident happened some minutes past 10am while the two monarchs were on their way to Gombe State for the funeral ceremony of the Emir of Gombe, Shehu Abubakar, who died in London on Tuesday.
Gwoza is one of the areas in Borno State that has witnessed consistent attacks by the insurgents in recent times.
The abduction of the Emirs has added another twist to the activities of the Boko Haram group which has captured and held over 200 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State for more than a month.
Nigerian security agencies, the Federal Government as well as the Borno State Government are yet to make any statement concerning the current kidnap incident.
Update: Emir of Gworza Dies while Escaping
Latest report reaching Huhuonline.com indicates that the Emir of Gwoza, Borno State, Alhaji Idrissa Timta, one of the two Emirs crossed by members of the Boko Haram on Friday, is dead.
According to security sources, Timta, is suspected to have died of heart attack while escaping into the bush from his assailants. His corpse was reportedly found where it laid stone dead.
According to sources, the Timta was with Mamza in a convoy on their way to Gombe State for the burial of the late Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Usman Shehu Abubakar.
It was learnt that as the convoy got to Zur village near Shafa in Hawul local government of Borno State, the gunmen suddenly emerged from the bush shooting at the convoy while the driver of the car which had the two emirs made frantic efforts to escape with them.
When the car could no longer move because of the impact of the bullets on it, the Emirs reportedly fled. Unfortunately while the Emir of Uba, who is younger, was able to run faster, the Emir of Gworza could not make his escape.
A source in the Gworza said arrangements are already ongoing being to bring his corpse to the village from the scene of the incident. As at the time of this report,
many of those in the entourage could not make it to the funeral they were headed to, having been abducted by the insurgents, while many of the vehicles they were travelling with were razed.
Relations of the Emir of Uba claim he is fine. They said they have been able to reach him and he told them he is alive. He however refused to state where he was.
A third monarch, the Emir of Askira, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibn Muhammadu Askirama, was fortunate. He sent representatives ahead of him while he remained in Abuja.
His representatives reportedly escaped the attackers by the whiskers.
Sources said, the incident has caused serious confusion in the towns where the monarchs hail from.
Borno State Government has confirmed Timta’s death.
A statement released by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda, said the incident happened at around 9am in the company of the Emir of Uba, Alhaji Ali Ibn Ismaila Mamza, while they drove to pick up the Emir of Biu on their way to the funeral in Gombe today of the late Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Usman Shehu Abubakar.
According to the statement, “the late Emir of Gwoza had visited his counterpart, the Emir of Uba yesterday and passed the night in Uba ahead of their planned trip today. The two Emirs were this morning, joined by the Emir of Askira. The three drove in the same vehicle with the intention of going to Biu to be joined by their counterpart in Biu.
“Unfortunately as they were driving in convoy to Biu, they were ambushed by gun men around Tashan Alade, soon after passing Garkida,” Baba said.
He said the gunmen came after the convoy, specifically targeted the vehicle conveying the three Emirs and opened fire.
“The Emir of Gwoza was unfortunately killed by the attackers while the Emirs of Askira and Uba escaped unhurt. A policeman in the convoy was shot by the attackers but he survived the attack,” Baba added.
Baba said the late Emir, who was recently made a first-class traditional ruler, was a pillar and one of the rallying points in Borno State.
He said the Borno State Government was terribly shocked by this incident and added that the government prays for the Timta to rest in peace. Baba expressed the state’s condolence to the members of the Gwoza Emirate Council, the people of Gwoza, the state council of chiefs and the entire people of Borno State.
