Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara state has reinstated Alh. Aliyu Garba Marafa as the Emir of Birnin Yandoto, according to an announcement by Kabiru Balarabe Sardauna, Secretary to the State Government. The Emir was suspended by Matawalle in July 2022 after he conferred a chieftaincy title on a bandit kingpin, Ado Aleiru, who played a role in a peace process arranged between the emirate and bandits who terrorized Tsafe Local Government Area (LGA).
Sardauna said Marafa’s reinstatement was based on the recommendations of the committee constituted to investigate the issue, which found no evidence of any ill motive or collaboration between the Emir and the bandit. The traditional title was conferred on the repentant bandit as part of peace-building efforts between the repentant bandit and banditry-affected communities in Tsafe and Gusau Local Government Areas, which include Yandoto town. The reinstatement takes immediate effect.
