BORNO State governor, Kashim
Shettima, left Maiduguri, the state capital, amid tight security, powered by a
combined force of about 150 soldiers of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army,
Maiduguri; the police special squad and the Civilian JTF, through the 135km
deserted Maiduguri-Bama Road to attend the burial of the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji
Shehu Mustapha Idris Timta, on Sunday.
The late emir, who was killed by Boko
Haram gunmen on Friday, was buried on Sunday in his domain amid tears.
Though the first class traditional
ruler was killed while on his way to attend the burial of the Emir of Gombe,
Alhaji Shehu Abubakar, none of his colleagues from within and outside the state
was able to attend his interment, due to unpredictable security situation on
the way and around Gwoza town.
Shettima was also accompanied by his
deputy, Zanna Mustapha and Senator Muhammed Ali Ndume, who is from Gwoza,
leading other state government functionaries to attend the burial.
Though Gwoza was badly affected by
the ongoing Boko Haram conflict that sacked many communities in the area, the
burial was well attended.
The crowded Islamic funeral was led
by the Chief Imam of Gwoza, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmad Bamanga.
Governor Shettima, who battled to
control his tears as he delivered his tribute and condolences, described the
late Shehu Timta as “a man who spent better part of his reign preaching peace
and tolerance.
“This is not a day for long speeches;
it is a day of mourning of our late father and ruler. May Allah give us yet
another monarch that will love his people in the manner the late Shehu Idrissa
Timta did.
“In his life time, he was eulogised
as one king that could keep a venomous viper in his pocket, because of his
superlative love for peace and tolerance. He was known as a traditional ruler
who never showed discrepancy, whether of religion or tribe.
“The late emir lived an exemplary
life; he was a paragon of everything that is good.”
The late emir is survived by his
centenarian mother, 28 children, 14 grandchildren and 14 siblings.
JNI condemns killing
The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI ) has
condemned the killing of the Emir of Gwoza, insisting it will neither be
deterred nor remained mute over the repeated acts of terror being unleashed on
the Muslim.
JNI, in a statement in Kaduna, signed
by the Secretary General, Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, said it painfully received
the news of the gruesome murder of Alhaji Timta by criminals.
According to the Islamic
organisation,the heinous attack was condemnable in its totality.
“We again expect the Federal
Government of Nigeria, through its relevant security agencies, to wake up to
their respective responsibilities of protecting lives and property of
Nigerians, especially in the North East.
“Enough diatribes had been heard on
the ugly situation. Therefore, purposeful and coordinated pro-active measures
must be on the ground to check the menace of the insurgency,” the statement
read.
It added that “in the light of the
above, we extend our condolences to the family of the late emir, the Shehu of
Borno, the Gwoza Emirate Council and the Borno State government.
“In the same vein, we send our
sympathy to the Emirs of Askira and Uba over the foiled attempt on their
respective lives.”
Source: Tribune