Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara State has acquitted Emir of Birnin Yandoto Alh. Aliyu Garba Marafa who conferred a chieftaincy title on a banditry kingpin, Ado Aleiru, of wrongdoing.
Marafa had suffered the ill effects of awarding the chieftaincy title, Sarkin Fulani (King of Fulanis) of Yandoton Daji Emirate in the banditary infested state to Aleiru, a wanted bandits’ kingpin last year’s July.
On account, the monarch suffered intense criticism, and suspension by Gov Matawalle despite justifying himself, claiming he arrived at the decision based on the fugitive’s key role in the peace process arranged between the emirate and bandits terrorising Tsafe Local Government Area.
The fresh report is by a statement on Sunday from Kabiru Balarabe Sardauna, Secretary to the State Government.
In it, Marafa was reportedly deemed to have acted in good faith and reinstated to his office on the recommendations of a committee commissioned to investigate him by the state government.
Quoting Sardauna’s remark: “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.
“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.”
