Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara State has approved the reinstatement of the Emir of Yandoto, Aliyu Garba Marafa, who was suspended for conferring a traditional title to a notorious bandits’ kingpin, Ado Aleiru.
Recall that the monarch bestowed the traditional title of Sarki Fulani to the bandit on Saturday, July 16, 2022.
According to reports, the Emir asserted that he decided to give the title to Aleiru because of the pivotal role he played during a peace process arranged between the emirate and bandits who terrorised Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.
However, the move did not go down well with the people both within and outside the state forcing the government to constitute a committee to investigate the action of the Emir.
In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Kabir Balarabe on Sunday, April 23, 2023, said the traditional ruler was reinstated following the recommendations of the committee who investigated his role and cleared him.
“This is to inform the public that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, MON, (Shatiman Sokoto), has approved the reinstatement of Alh. Aliyu Garba Marafa as the Emir of Birnin Yandoto,” the statement read.
“His reinstatement is based on the recommendations of the Committee constituted to investigate all issues pertaining to the conferment of a traditional title to a repentant bandit, Ado Aleiru.
“The committee found no evidence of any ill motive or collaboration between the Emir and the bandit. Based on the findings of the committee, the traditional title was conferred on the repentant bandit as part of peace building efforts between the repentant bandit and banditry-affected communities in Tsafe and Gusau Local Government Areas, which include Yandoto town. The reinstatement takes immediate effect.”