Reports from Sokoto State in northern Nigeria indicate that the bandits who kidnapped the Emir of Gobir, Alhaji Isa Bawa, have killed the monarch.
WikkiTimes reports earlier that traditional ruler was seen in a video asking the Sokoto State government to pay the ransom demanded by the kidnappers, warning that if the deadline was not met, they would kill him.
The kidnappers abducted monarch in the Kwanar Maharba area while he was on his way home from a meeting in Sokoto town.
In an interview with the BBC Hausa, Shuaibu Gwanda Gobir, the emir’s councillor, confirmed that the kidnappers had killed the emir on Tuesday. “The news I received was that the kidnappers shot him yesterday [Tuesday] after evening prayers, and those who went to negotiate the ransom found the king’s body lying there,” he said.
He also stated that as of the time of the interview, they had not received the emir’s body.
He added that a prince named Kabiru was also kidnapped alongside the emir and is currently being held by the bandits.
Gobir said: “On Tuesday morning, the leader of the kidnappers called to ask about the ransom. When asked to speak with the emir, he said the emir was busy and feeling unwell.”
When spoken to, Kabiru who is held there confirmed that the emir was sick, but asked for the ransom to be paid to free them.
Sources from Sabon Birni say that five more people were kidnapped in the area on the day the emir was killed.
