Hon. Aminu Boza Denies The Allegation
By Segun Onibiyo and Steven Kefas
(Kaduna), In a dramatic development that reads like a plot from a political thriller, the son of a recently assassinated Nigerian traditional ruler has accused a sitting state legislator of orchestrating his father’s abduction and murder.
The chilling allegation has riveted the attention of citizens in Nigeria’s northwestern state of Sokoto, the seat of Nigeria’s Islamic Caliphate and a state roiled by massacres and kidnappings at the hands of Islamist bandit terrorists. The horrific torture of a sitting political ruler has raised alarming questions about the intersection of politics and organized crime in Africa’s most populous nation. The possible motivation for the crime remains an unsettled question.
Alhaji Isa Bawa, the 73-year-old Emir of Gobir, was kidnapped along with his son, Kabiru, in July while traveling near the border with The Niger Republic. The Emir is a Fulani-tribe Muslim political ruler of Gatawa District in Sabon Birni county (Local Government Area) and presides over an area governed by Islamic (Sharia) law.
After weeks of captivity and failed ransom negotiations, the Emir was tragically killed on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. In a heart-wrenching video released days before his death, the elderly monarch had pleaded for his life as his captors’ threatened execution.
Now, in an explosive turn of the story, the released son of the late Emir has come forward with a startling claim. In a viral video posted on social media, Kabiru Bawa alleged that before killing his father, the kidnappers revealed they had been paid and provided information by Hon. Aminu Boza, a member of the Sokoto State Assembly representing Sabon Birnin Gobir.
Assemblyman Boza has categorically denied the accusation, according to a viral video referenced by Sahara Reporters. “I want to make it clear that I am not involved in any criminal activities or associated with the bandits in any way,” according to the viral video allegedly from legislator Boza.
Sokoto State authorities have yet to issue a statement clarifying what happened to the respected emir and the reasons for the kidnapping.
“The abductors told the Emir before they killed him that Hon. Aminu Boza provided them with the information and 5 million Naira to abduct him,” Kabiru Bawa stated in a viral video. This allegation, if proven true, would implicate a sitting government official in a high-profile kidnapping and murder case, underscoring the deep-rooted challenges facing Nigeria’s security and political landscape.
The accusation has sent ripples through the local community. Alhaji Tukur Gobir, a former councillor of Gobir ward, expressed his dismay to TruthNigeria: “It is unfortunate that even leaders like the emir are not safe from these criminal elements who are, most unfortunately, tools in the hands of political elites.”
This case is not isolated but part of a broader pattern of kidnappings plaguing Nigeria, particularly in the northwest. Criminal gangs, often referred to locally as “bandits,” have terrorized communities for 20 years, abducting civilians – including schoolchildren – for ransom. The involvement of a political figure in such activities, if confirmed, would add a disturbing new dimension to the crisis.
Dr Walid Abdullahi, a Birnin Kebbi-based Lecturer and security expert, expressed grave concern over these developments. “This allegation, linking a sitting lawmaker to the kidnapping and murder of a traditional ruler, is deeply worrisome. It should be of utmost concern to all Nigerians and indeed the international community,” Abdullahi told TruthNigeria. “If proven true, it would indicate a dangerous collusion between political actors and criminal elements, further eroding public trust in government institutions.”
The accusation against Hon. Boza is not without precedent. In recent years, there have been growing suspicions of government officials’ involvement in the kidnapping activities ravaging the North West region. In May, 2024 Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina state said that government officials and security personnel were aiding bandits activities in the country. “Now it has turned out to be a business venture. A business venture for the criminals, some people who are in government; some people who are in security outfits, and some people who are responsible for the day-to-day activities of their people.
“These are so many reasons why we are unable to bring banditry to an end,” the Governor said during an appearance on Channels TV.
Similarly, in a viral social media released in July 2024, terror kingpin Bello Turji accused the Nigerian junior Minister for Defence, Bello Matawalle for backing terrorism In Nigeria. The daredevil terror warlord also claimed that he has evidence to back up his claim.
In the video, Turji said, “My name is Muhammed Bello Turji, and I have released this video to reach all Nigerians, from leaders to the common people. This is the message I want to convey to everyone.
“The security challenges facing our country have the full support of the previous government in Zamfara State. I have evidence to back this claim. The previous administration, under His Excellency Bello Mattawalle Maradun (Minister of State for Defence), is known to everyone in the region.
“This government was complicit in supporting terrorism. There are people from Shinkafi, Zurmi, and Issah who cannot deny this video.”
The implications of the allegations made against the serving lawmaker extend beyond Nigeria’s borders. As the United States and other Western nations continue to partner with Nigeria on security and counterterrorism initiatives, the potential involvement of elected officials in violent criminal activities raises serious questions about the effectiveness of these partnerships.
For many Nigerians, this case represents a tragic confluence of the country’s most pressing issues: the breakdown of security, the corruption of political processes, and the vulnerability of even the most respected traditional institutions.
As calls for a thorough investigation grow louder, the eyes of the nation – and increasingly, the world – are on Sokoto State and Nigerian federal authorities. Their response to these allegations will be a critical test of Nigeria’s commitment to justice, accountability, and the rule of law.
The story of the Emir of Gobir’s assassination and its aftermath serves as a stark reminder of the complex challenges facing Nigeria. It underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in the country’s political and security sectors – reforms that must address not only the symptoms of violence and instability but also their root causes in corruption and political manipulation.
As Nigeria grapples with these issues, the international community, including the United States, will be watching closely. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s stability, its relationships with foreign partners, and its path forward in an increasingly complex global landscape.
Segun Onibiyo and Steven Kefas are conflict reporters for Truth Nigeria.
