Emir of Zurmi Bello Suleiman dies after five years on throne

Bello Suleiman, the Emir of Zurmi in Zamfara State, has passed away after presiding over the region for five years. He succumbed to his demise on Monday afternoon at the Federal Medical Centre in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State. According to a statement released by the emirate palace, Suleiman took up the role in 2021, succeeding his uncle Abubakar Atiku.

Atiku's rule ended after he was removed by the state government in 2021 and was formally deposed in April of the following year. Both Atiku and the late Suleiman had faced accusations of having ties with banditry and interfering with security operations. Atiku subsequently passed away at a hospital in Egypt. During his reign, Suleiman had to contend with significant insecurity in Zurmi.

In May 2024, bandits launched an attack on the town, leading to the raid of the emir's palace, the death of three security personnel, and the abduction of several residents, including Suleiman's chief detail Buhari Yusuf and two others, Aliyu Ahmed and Sa'idu Lawali. The assailants also targeted a telecommunications facility in a bid to disrupt communications and hinder the security forces from responding to the assault.

The bandits reportedly blamed the late monarch for failing to address the alleged maltreatment of Fulani residents by local vigilantes. Zurmi, situated close to Nigeria's border with Niger Republic and bordering Katsina State, is the second-largest town in Zamfara State, following Gusau.