GUNMEN suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents on Friday killed a first class emir in Borno State, the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idrissa Timta, during an attack in which two other emirs escaped death by a whisker.
Presenting the official account of the murder of the Emir,the Borno State government said the traditional ruler was killed on his way with others to the funeral of the Emir of Gombe who died on Tuesday.
“The emir was killed around 9:00a.m. today following a bloody attack by some gunmen believed to be members of the Boko Haram along Tashan Alade on the way to Biu town, headquarters of Biu Local Government Area in southern Borno State.
“The late emir was in company of the Emir of Askira, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibn Muhammadu Askirama, and Emir of Uba, Alhaji Ali Ibn Ismaila Mamza – all of who drove in the same vehicle as they headed to Biu to pick the Emir of Biu so they could all drive in a convoy to Gombe State to attend the funeral of the late Emir of Gombe who was scheduled for burial in Gombe today (Friday).
“The late emir had visited his counterpart, the Emir of Uba, yesterday and passed the night in Uba ahead of their planned trip today. The two emirs were this morning joined by the Emir of Askira. The three drove in the same vehicle with the intention of going to Biu to be joined by their counterpart in Biu.
“Unfortunately, as they were driving in convoy to Biu, they were ambushed by gunmen around Tashan Alade, soon after passing Garkida. The gunmen came after the convoy, specifically targeted the vehicle conveying the three emirs and opened fire. The Emir of Gwoza was unfortunately killed by the attackers while the emirs of Askira and Uba escaped unhurt.
“A policeman in the convoy was shot by the attackers but he survived the attack,” the statement, signed by the Secretary to the State government, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda, said.
Wali Ibrahim, a member of the Gwoza royalty and a close aide to the slain emir, told the Cable News Network (CNN) that the gunmen opened fire from hilltops overlooking the highway.
“We came under heavy gunfire from the hills, which forced the convoy to break up in disarray,” said Ibrahim, who was in Timta’s entourage.
“We returned to a military checkpoint not far from the scene of the attack and reported the incident to soldiers there, but to our surprise, they made no effort to go after the attackers,” Ibrahim said.
“By the time we returned to the scene, we met the emir dead inside the vehicle with gunshots,” he said.
A local, Mallam Habu Shaffa, claimed that one of the emirs was shot and the other escaped.
“We were going to our farms when we saw police and some people shooting (one another). We saw a car and we knew that it belonged to an emir. We thought it was the Emir of Biu but later, we learnt that it was the Emir of Gwoza and the Emir of Uba, who were passing, and Boko Haram opened fire on their vehicle. One of the emirs died, but others were said to have escaped,” he said.
Saturday Tribune, who called on a close relation of the late emir, gathered that when the relation called a member of the family, there was wailing at the background, and later the person that answered the call announced that they had lost “the great one” – meaning the emir is dead.
Another report said the Emir of Uba, Alhaji Ismail Mamza, did not escape but was held hostage by the insurgents who were still battling with soldiers at Zhur forest where the attack took place.
“I don’t know if the military were able to rescue him (Emir of Uba) but one of the people with him during the attack said they were attacked and someone called the military; but it was too late for the Emir of Gwoza before the military arrived the scene.”
The military ,however, said the other two emirs were “ secured” by its men.
It was also gathered from another source that a gun battle was going on between the military and Boko Haram sect members when the convoy of the emirs ran into them and they were caught in the crossfire.
“Whatever it is, there was a gun battle and it was unfortunate. We lost our emir,” he said.
The Borno State government described the late emir as “a great man who worked very hard to promote peace and progress in Gwoza.”
The statement read: “He was a pillar and one of the rallying points in Borno State. He visibly worked very hard in the search for peace in Gwoza since the insurgency began.
“Borno State government is terribly shocked by this incident. The government prays that Allah admits the late emir into aljanna Firadaus and give the family members of the Gwoza Emirate Council, the people of Gwoza, the state Council of Chiefs and the entire people of Borno State the fortitude to bear this very traumatic loss, especially at a time the state is still dealing with equally disturbing issues related with security challenges in the state.”
Soldiers, insurgents in gun duel at Zhur forest
There were reports Friday that soldiers and members of the Boko Haram sect engaged in gun battle at Zhur forest, between Garkida town (Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State) and Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State.
A top security source who spoke with Saturday Tribune on phone on Friday said the battle was ongoing at Zhur forest close to Sangere (a Fulani settlement) where reports said Boko Haram militants pitched their tent and from where they were terrorising villagers and travelers along the Borno-Adamawa route.
Zhur forest and Sangere village are located in the southern part of Borno State, about 235 kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, which also has a history of robbery operations in the past.
According to a source, there is currently panic in Garkida town as people are said to be scampering for safety. But the military is also said to have dispatched its men to calm the people.
“We have soldiers in Garkida, but you know the people have never experienced war; they are all afraid. We blocked the road so that people do not get entangled or rush to unsafe places,” he said.
The source said that security operatives discovered that the insurgents had been going from one village to another to collect money from the villagers and also to force their young men to join the group or get killed.
“Last week, we received report that they (Boko Haram) went to Shaffa, although they did not cause trouble but collected money from some people and asked them to get more money within a period of two weeks, otherwise they would come and run down the whole village.
“The two weeks will elapse tomorrow (Saturday),” he said.
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