Nasarawa state Traditional Council of Chiefs and Emirs has warned youths in the state against unruly behaviour. This is coming against the background of the recent attack on the Emir of Kwandere in Lafia local government area of the state, Alhaji Ahmadu Al-makura who is a first class chief and elder brother of Governor Umar Tanko Al-makura. Chairman of the Traditional Council of Chiefs and Emirs and Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Mustapher Agwai II led a delegation of traditional rulers on a sympathy visit to Alhaji Al-makura during which he chided the youths involved in the attack, describing their actions as unacceptable.
The Kwandere youths were reportedly protesting takeover of their farmlands for public projects amongst which are the cargo airport, international market and comprehensive health centre, with little or no compensation. The Comprehensive Primary Health Centre was commissioned in February by President Muhammadu Buhari during the first presidential official visit to the state. The federal government plans to build a 100 housing units in Kwandere.
Giving a background to the attack the Emir of Kwandere said, “They said they would not give their lands for the building of 100 housing units by the Federal Mortgage Bank in the area. They also said that their lands were taken over for the building of Comprehensive Health Centre, International market, among others. So, they said that I should talk to the governor, that they would no longer give their lands for further projects”.
Continuing the royal father disclosed that he had earlier had a meeting with the aggrieved youths during which it was agreed that they should outline their grievances in writing for onward transmission to the state governor.
“I offered to lead the delegation to the governor but to my surprise, they still attacked my convoy, destroyed my vehicles and attacked even policemen”, the Kwandere Emir narrated. The exact number of casualties and damages could not be ascertained even as the youths alleged that one Hussaini Yahuza was killed in the fracas but this could not be confirmed by the state police command. The police say they are investigating the incident.
Youths in the area alleged that their protest was peaceful until the shooting of a protester by a policeman in the Emir’s entourage which enraged them and aggravated the fracas. But Emir Ai-makura denied ordering policemen to shoot at them, his subjects.
Leader of the youths, Ibrahim Musa stated that after the fracas, some youths suspected by some to be “palace thugs” razed down his house in the night. “The youths stormed my residence and set my house ablaze including all my properties and N1.2 million cash of land I sold to someone”.
During the traditional rulers sympathy visit to Kwandere, they described the attack on Emir Al-makura as a “sacrilege” adding that it was against traditional values. Chairman of the Traditional Council Alhaji Agwai II, the Emir of Lafia, enjoined youths to follow due process and right channels in venting their grievances rather than resorting to violence which is an ill wind that blows no one any good.