The murder of Isa Bawa, the Head of Gatawa District in Sokoto State’s Sabon Birni Local Government Area, was barbaric, senseless, and unjustifiable, according to Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle on Friday.
Bawa, his son, and six others were kidnapped in July while travelling from Sokoto to Sabon Birni, near the Niger border.
The team sent to deliver the ransom demanded by the bandits discovered Bawa’s corpse.
Before his death, a video of the 74-year-old king pleading for his freedom from his captors went viral last Saturday.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Henshaw Ogubike, the minister denounced the district head’s death and directed the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, to pursue the monarch’s perpetrators.
He said, “The Minister of State for Defence has strongly condemned the brutal killing of the Head of Gatawa District in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Alhaji Isa Bawa, describing it as heinous and unacceptable.
“He said the killing of Bawa was a senseless and brutal act that would not be tolerated.
“Consequent to this, Matawalle has directed the Chief of Defence Staff to immediately launch a thorough investigation into the incident and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”
Matawalle emphasised that security is one of President Bola Tinubu’s top priorities, and he has provided full support to the military.
He assured the public that the Armed Forces would stop at nothing to find and prosecute those responsible for this horrific act.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians,” Matawalle said.
The minister also extended his sympathies to the late district head’s family, the Gatawa people, and the Sokoto State Government.
