Group asks Bauchi govt to compensate victims of Gonto memorial anniversary violence

A group, Zauren Baba Gonto, from Tafawa Balewa/Bogoro Local Government Areas of Bauchi State, on Tuesday, asked the state federal government to compensate victims of the December 31, 2021 violence that appeared in the area over the 21st memorial anniversary of Sayawa’s leader, Baba Peter Gonto.

DAILY POST recalls that the violence that erupted over the messed up anniversary caused attacks on the convoys of the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Ralwabu Sulaiman Adamu and Emir of Dass, Alhaji Othman Biliyaminu Usman.

Numerous apparently persons lost lives, other belongings and numerous houses were damaged in the melee.

Consulting with reporters in Bauchi on Tuesday, leader of the group, Bonji Bar, while condemning the attacks in its entirety, attracted the state government to guarantee that those who suffered losses throughout the attacks are adequately compensated.

Bar called for peace among warring factions, saying that they must see each others as bros and sisters bound by ethnic lineage for a common cause and as such bury their hatchets.

According to him, the violence, which began with Tafawa Balewa on December 29 and continued till December 31, 2021, was preventable.

“We wish to condemn in strong terms the unfortunate and unsightly violent attack by punks, arsonists and anarchists that suddenly ended the Baba Peter Gonto 21st memorial and official introducing of the Peter Gonto Foundation that happened on the 31st December, 2021 in Bogoro.

“This preventable and unsightly debacle started from Tafawa Balewa from 29 through the December 31, 2021 and spread to other communities consisting of Bar, Bogoro and Mwari, the town of the legendary Baba Peter Gonto of blessed memories.

“We, therefore, get in touch with the state federal government to make sure that all those innocent persons who suffered loss in any type are compensated,” Bar stated.

He informed that the incident resulted in the death of a boy of the famous Gonto, Baba Aralla Peter Gonto, urging people of the areas to ensure peace reigned as the deceased was yet to be buried.

“This ugly incident resulted in the unforeseen death of Baba Aralla Peter Gonto, who happens to be a renowned kid and liberator of our land, Baba Peter Gonto. In view of this, we sue for calm as the departed is yet to be buried,” he said.

Bar said the group would continue to moderate in between warring factions up until an unified front was achieved and gotten in touch with security companies in the state to ensure that they capture wrongdoers of the violence.

“We get in touch with the security companies to pursue and nab the criminals of these barbaric acts and let them deal with the complete wrath of the law to act as deterrent to other criminally minded fellows, and their sponsors arrested.

“As Zauren Baba Gonto, we will continue to run on non partisanship and all the interest of Zaar boys and children would be secured by us in all frontiers irrespective of political affiliation, ideology, faith, clan, social status, or neighborhood.”

He then interested Sayawa groups and people to avoid posting on social networks prompting, intriguing and inflammatory declarations capable of stirring disaffection and disunity.

In his words, “we get in touch with ZDA, ZAYODA, Women wing, NUZAS, other pressure and interest groups, political leaders, civil servant, artisans, farmers and other personal people of Zaar extraction to refrain from publishing prompting, inflammatory and provocative declarations that can stir disaffection and cause dis-unity, and worse off, disputes particularly on social networks platforms.

“We, for that reason, advise all Zaar sons and children wherever they may be to stay law abiding and on no account shall we endure any form of incitement and violence.

“All warring factions should bury their hatchets and see each other as bros and siblings bound by ethnic lineage for a common cause.

“We even more call on all the victims or their relations to avoid the temptation of any reprisal attacks, considering that all appropriate machinery of federal government have quickly swung into action in order to decisively deal with the scenario in order to avoid future reoccurrence.”