Emir of Zurmi Bello Suleiman dies after five years on throne

The Emir of Zurmi in Zamfara State, Bello Suleiman, has died after five years on the throne.

The traditional ruler died on Monday afternoon at the Federal Medical Centre in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, according to a statement from the emirate palace.

Suleiman became emir in 2021 after succeeding his uncle, Abubakar Atiku, who was removed by the state government that year and formally deposed in April 2022.

Atiku was removed alongside the Emir of Dansadau, Hussaini Umar. Both monarchs were accused of having links with banditry and interfering with security operations. Atiku later died at a hospital in Egypt.

The late Emir Suleiman also ruled during a period of serious insecurity in Zurmi.

In May 2024, bandits attacked the town, raided the emir’s palace, killed three security personnel stationed at the entrance and abducted several residents.

Among those kidnapped were the emir’s chief detail, Buhari Yusuf, and two other men, Aliyu Ahmed and Sa’idu Lawali.

The attackers also vandalised a telecommunications facility in an attempt to disrupt communications and prevent security forces from responding to the attack.

Residents said the bandits accused the late monarch of failing to act over the alleged maltreatment of Fulani residents by local vigilantes.

Zurmi is located near Nigeria’s border with Niger Republic and shares a boundary with Katsina State. It is the second-most-populated town in Zamfara State after Gusau.