The July 16, 2022, conferment of the Sarkin Fulani traditional title on the repentant kidnap kingpin and terrorist, Ado Aliero, by the Emir of Birnin Yandoto, Zamfara State, Aliyu Mafara, sparked nationwide outrage.
The traditional ruler had reportedly taken that step to prevent his subjects from further attacks by the dreaded Aliero and his criminal gang.
But an angry Governor Matawalle promptly suspended the emir. In 2021, the governor had taken a similar measure against not less than three traditional rulers for alleged involvement in banditry. Sadly, the situation remains the same till today.
And although the emir was later exonerated and subsequently reinstated, it emerged that Ado Aliero had been declared wanted by the Police in Katsina State for alleged homicide, terrorism, armed robbery and kidnapping.
He was said to have killed over 100 residents of Kadisau village for which the police had put a N5 million bounty on his head.
That terrorism, banditry, mass kidnappings for ransom and imposition of illegal levies and taxes on innocent citizens by these hoodlums have persisted in both Katsina and Zamfara states (and indeed the entire North-East) is a pointer to the counter-productiveness of the emir’s action.
In fact, conferring traditional or any other titles on such elements who do not value human life or obey any lawful authorities only emboldens them and their ilk into indulging in even more horrendous acts because they know that, rather than punishment, only rewards await them.
That was why Nigerians where horrified when, on April 7, 2024, the convicted kidnapper and gunrunner, Hamisu Bala, aka Wadume, was accorded a hero’s welcome at his home town, Ibbi, in Taraba State, after serving a 7-year prison term.
He was driven in a long convoy of vehicles round town as a mark of respect.
But as could be gleaned from reactions on the social and other conventional media, most Nigerians were scandalized that a criminal in whose hands security agents and other innocent citizens had lost their lives was being feted by a community some of whose members must have been his victims.
That is the depth of the moral depravity into which some of our societies have sank in order to pamper apparent criminals simply because they peddle power, affluence and wealth, albeit dubious.
But, as if that moral turpitude was not bad enough, Wadume was hosted to a special reception by the traditional ruler of his home town, Alhaji Garba Salihu.
It is worthy of note that this same Wadume made this confessional statement in 2019: “I am Hamisu Bala also known as Wadume. The police came to Ibbi and arrested me. After arresting me, they were taking me to Abuja when soldiers went after them, opened fire and some policemen were killed.
“From there, the soldiers took me to their headquarters and cut off the handcuffs on my hands and I ran away. Since I ran away, I have been hiding until now that the police arrested me again.”
It was before this individual that an entire community and its traditional ruler were groveling and competing with one another to please and win his acceptance.
But these are not isolated cases. All over Nigeria, traditional titles are bought by people with questionable character because it confers a semblance of prestige on them. This is because we put wealth and affluence before morals.
In a world where the pressures of modern life and materialism have worn ethical values thin, our traditional institutions have become our most valued moral compass.
But when the custodians of these ethos are seen to be hobnobbing with the elements threatening the very existence of our country, where else should society look to for guidance?
This dangerous trend brings to question the much wider issues of the core values that underpin our existence as a people and country.
That the ignominious celebration of a high profile kidnapper was coming just a few days to the tenth anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok girls, 89 of whom are still unaccounted for, is highly symbolic of the way our society views such crimes – which have left countless families and communities traumatized forever.
It has been suggested that these traditional rulers resort to such desperate and unwholesome practices to placate the criminals in order to safeguard their domains from attacks.
This is, therefore, a wake-up call to governments at all levels to take the responsibility of safeguarding the lives and property of citizens more seriously.
*(AN EDITORIAL OF THE NIGERIA STANDARD NEWSPAPER, April 17, 2024)