Mai Tangale crisis: Gombe imposes curfew on Billiri

 

The lingering crisis rocking the appointment of a new Mai Tangale, the traditional ruler of Billiri in Gombe State took a new dimension on Friday with the imposition of a 24- hour curfew on Billiri by the State Government even as the protesters insisted that Governor Inuwa Yahaya can only make peace with them by announcing Dr. Musa Idris Maiyamba, who polled 5 out of 9 from the Kingmakers as the Mai Tangale.

The remaining four kingmakers voted 2 for Ahmad Magaji and another 2 voted for Mr Danladi.

A member of the community, Benjamin Dangoma who spoke with The Nation said the grievances of the people are genuine and cannot be trampled upon by the governor.

According to him, the governor has started a process that produced Dr. Musa Maiyamba as the highest scorer and should therefore not truncate the process by choosing any other person.

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“This is what we want; this is what the people are agitating for. Any other choice is not going to bring peace to this area,” he said.

The Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Njodi, who made the announcement in a press briefing, said the curfew was as a result of eruption of violence in Billiri town which had degenerated to security threat to both live and property.

“The government affirmed the need for peaceful coexistence among the citizenry and commitment to the protection of lives and properties. Consequently, the government has suspended all forms of gathering in Billiri Local Government Area.

“All security agencies are hereby  directed towards ensuring strict compliance with this directive. All citizens are expected to comply with the directive except those personnel providing essential services,” said Njodi.

Earlier in the day, the state Commissioner of Police Hammed Maikudi, while briefing journalists in his office appealed to the people to embrace dialogue in expressing their grievances rather than engaging in actions that infringe on the rights of others.

Maikudi said the protesters should allow the governor to perform his constitutional role in the appointment of the new Mai Tangale.

He said the community should desist from making inflammatory statements that could lead to breach of peace in the area, adding that all hands must be on deck to maintain peace and order in the community.

“The command has put measures in and around Billiri town to restore sanity and order; we advise the people to sheath their sword and embrace peace.’’

Shehu stated that it was the duty of the police to protect lives and properties of individuals, hence the appeal to the people to embrace peace, “we don’t want blood to be spilled in Gombe.’’

Similarly, Rev. John Joseph of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Billiri Local Government of Gombe State also appealed for calm amongst residents following protest over the delayed appointment of the new Mai Tangle.

Rev Joseph who made the appeal while briefing our correspondent in Gombe said “it is on record that the people of Billiri are peace loving.”

He said the people of Tangale were not known to be violent, “therefore, I call on our sons and daughters to remain calm and law abiding.

“They should not take the laws into their hands as we would do all within our powers and the ambit of the law to ensure that the people’s choice is given to them,” he appealed.

The clergyman further called on people within and outside the chiefdom to continue to pray for the peace and the will of God to be perfected.

Rev Joseph appealed to the state government to do “ what is just, fair and right in the shortest time to douse tension and calm all frayed nerves.”