A tragic event unfolded in Sokoto State on Tuesday when the Emir of Gobir, Isa Bawa, was kidnapped. His abductors demanded a ransom of N60 million. Relatives, with the help of influential figures, including Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, were reportedly close to raising the funds.
However, before the ransom could be paid, the kidnappers murdered the Emir in cold blood. Shockingly, they then demanded payment before they would release the Emir’s body.
This incident has been largely underreported by the media, overshadowing the deep-seated socio-political crisis brewing in Northern Nigeria—a conflict that could potentially engulf the entire country.
A Deeper Conflict
Unknown to many, the murder of the Emir of Gobir is the latest episode in a long-standing intra-ethnic conflict between the Fulani and Hausa. For over a decade, this conflict has claimed thousands of lives, although it is often downplayed by the ruling classes of both ethnic groups. The Hausa and Fulani, though distinct, have often been politically grouped together as Hausa-Fulani. However, decades of misrule, poverty, hunger, and exclusion in the North have exposed deep internal divisions, previously masked by a shared Islamic identity.
The situation has been further exacerbated by the rise of Fulani far-right elements, particularly since 2015 when former President Muhammadu Buhari took power. This has intensified the asymmetric war between the Fulani and Hausa, which has now escalated into armed conflict, despite attempts by successive governments to downplay the danger.
The kidnapping and subsequent killing of the Emir of Gobir is a brutal manifestation of this ongoing conflict.
Historical Context
Ghali Abdulazeez, a social commentator, described the events in Sokoto State as “terrible.” The Emir of Gobir, a respected leader, was kidnapped from his palace. The kidnappers initially demanded N60 million and five motorcycles as ransom. Now, they refuse to release the Emir’s body until their demands are met.
The murder of the Emir, a Fulani man, is believed to be linked to the ongoing radical and often violent agitation by the Hausa, who were the original inhabitants of the land before the 1804 Jihad. This event, seen as a usurpation of their ancestral rights, has fueled resentment among the Hausa.
Before 1804, Gobir was ruled by Hausa kings for over 700 years, flourishing under their leadership. The Hausa Kingdom was centered in Alkalawa, in northwestern Hausaland. In the 15th century, the Hausa King expanded his rule, although it was briefly interrupted by the Tuaregs, who established the Sultanate in Agadez. Gobir regained its strength under Hausa rule and became fortified.
In 1774, the Hausa King Bawa invited the Fulani scholar Uthman Dan Fodio to Gobir. Fodio, from Fouta Jallon Island, settled in a small town called Degel and began preaching Islam. Initially employed as a teacher for the royal family, Fodio gained a large following among the poor Hausa by criticizing the burden placed on them by their rulers. However, tensions rose, and in 1803, the Hausa King Yunfa exiled Fodio. Fodio then organized a small army of mainly Fulani nomads and launched the Jihad in 1804, eventually overthrowing the Hausa rulers and establishing Fulani dominance.
The Resurgence of Hausa Identity
The Hausa have now realized the need to reclaim their ancestral lands, which they feel were taken from them during the Jihad. This realization has fueled a desire among the Hausa to assert their own identity, challenging the historical narrative of unity between the Hausa and Fulani. However, this demand is fraught with difficulty, as it would require the current Emirs to abdicate their positions.
The killing of the Emir of Gobir is likely to spark further violence unless both Hausa and Fulani leaders acknowledge the severity of the situation and take decisive action. The conflict, already spreading to other parts of Northern Nigeria, is driven by what many believe is an indigenous Hausa revolt, often masked by the label of “banditry.”
The Way Forward
Resolving this conflict will not be easy. It requires, first and foremost, an acknowledgment that a major problem exists. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must bring together Hausa and Fulani leaders to identify the root causes of the conflict and develop short-term, medium-term, and long-term solutions that address social, economic, and political grievances.
Currently, both ethnic groups are reportedly importing mercenaries from Chad, Niger, Mali, and Southern Sudan to continue this conflict, which has taken on a life of its own. If left unchecked, this could spread to other parts of Nigeria, with devastating consequences for peace and stability in the country.