The police in Bauchi State, on Friday, informed the public that they have arrested a self-styled Gum Zaar, king of Sayawa, in Bogoro Local Government Area of the state over the April 15 communal clash at Sang village resulting from the selection of one Matthew Ishaya as the hamlet head of the village.
The 71-year-old Gum Zaar, Air Commodore Ishaku Komo (retd), was arrested over the unrest alongside six others identified as Matthew Ishaya, 56, Yakubu Bala, 65, Appolos Hassan, 72, Nathaniel Joshua, 40, Abenagu Zakka, 30, and James Dajum, 65.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, stated, in a release he signed and made available to DAILY POST, that the arrest of the suspects was the result of the preliminary investigation of the communal clash.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the communal clash in Sang village of Bogoro LGA emanated from the coronation of a hamlet head of Sang, who retired Air Commodore Ishaku Komo, acting as Gum Zaar of Sayawa community, selected [in the person of] Mr Matthew Ishaya as the hamlet head.
“Consequently, the clash resulted in the attack of innocent residents, as the irate youths set 65 houses, three motorcycles, and other properties worth millions of naira ablaze. And also, one Apollos Danlami, 70, was killed in the incident, while Naemiya Bature, 65, and six others were grievously injured in the fracas,” Wakil stated.
According to him, investigation had established a prima facie case for the offences of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance of the public peace, mischief by fire, causing grievous hurt, and culpable homicide against the seven suspects, adding that one locally made revolver pistol, one cartridge, and one knife were recovered as exhibits from them.
The police spokesman, however, called on the public to disregard a viral video in which it was alleged that Komo was arrested, harassed, and intimidated by security agencies. The video also alleged that security personnel were used by prominent Bauchi and northern governors who are Muslims to harass Christians in the state, particularly those in communities that voted massively for the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the February 25 presidential election.
“Ordinarily, the Command would have overlooked the viral issue, but it has become expedient to set the record straight as some members of the public are being misled by the bogus section of the media,” he stated.
