The Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouk Bahago, has suspended the forthcoming Eid el-Kabir durbar in his emirate to sympathise with the victims of banditry in the emirate.
Paikoro, Munya and Shiroro LGAs of Niger State that form part of Minna Emirate have been witnessing attacks by bandits, with the latest being on Kaffin-Koro and adjoining communities in Paikoro LGA, where dozens of farmers abducted since March this year are still being held captive.
The Kimiyan Minna, Alhaji Yusuf Tanko Kuta, confirmed on a radio station said, “Tsalle Daya”, that the emirate had concluded arrangements to hold the annual Sallah durbar when the emir ordered for its suspension, saying that dozens of his subjects in rural areas that were kidnapped were still in captivity.
Kuta said, “You would recall that some months ago bandits attacked Kaffin-Koro and adjoining communities during which people were kidnapped. As we speak, those that were kidnapped are still in captivity; they have not been rescued.
“And recently, the abductors released a video which went viral in which the world saw how those innocent people were being treated and dehumanised. So, the emir feels the pain even though people complained that the emirate council had not held Sallah durbar for years now. But as a leader with a good mind, His Royal Highness feels it won’t be good of him holding durbar when poor farmers from his domain are being held captive for months.”
He further said that the emir was being briefed regularly by district heads on the security situation in the banditry-invested communities in his emirate which were all put into consideration before the durbar was suspended.
