Alhaji (Dr) Yunusa Muhammadu Dan Yaya, the emir of Ningi Emirate in Bauchi State, has claimed that some traditional leaders are working with kidnappers to terrorize local residents.
According to him, kidnapping has grown to be such a lucrative industry that traditional rulers now invite their relatives to the emirate to kidnap locals.
According to Platinum Times, a number of kidnapping occurrences have recently been reported in various locations throughout Bauchi State.
Peasant farmers, who are most impacted by the development, are now afraid to go to their farms.
When he invited traditional leaders, including the heads of more than 1000 wards, to his palace on Friday, the Emir made the accusation.
The meeting discussed the emirate’s high level of insecurity.
According to intelligence information at Dan Yaya’s disposal, some disloyal ward chiefs are working together with criminals to carry out a variety of illicit acts.
A rigorous screening will be undertaken moving forward to profile all the ward leaders in order to weed out the bad apples among them, he said, adding that he would not hesitate to depose anyone caught in the act.
Dan Yaya stressed that no one who is implicated will be spared in the criminal activity and further cautioned those involved to cease before the law caught up with them.
The Ningi Local Government Area Caretaker Chairman, Hon. Ibrahim Zubairu, highlighted in his remarks that the Council has launched awareness campaigns in various localities to inform residents about their role in reducing criminal activity.
No effort will be spared, the chairman pledged, in the fight against local insecurity.