CAN condemns killing of Emir of Gwoza

The Christian body said Nigerians must not be afraid to condemn Boko Haram.

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has condemned the killing of the Emir of Gwoza, and the attack on two other emirs, by suspected Boko Haram militants.

The three senior traditional rulers in Borno State – the Emirs of Gwoza, Uba and Askira- were travelling for the funeral of the Emir of Gombe, when they came under attack.

The Emir of Gwoza, Idrissa Timta, died in the early morning attack while his colleagues survived.

The Christian association said the killing again demonstrates the “evil plans of Boko Haram”.

“I am pained by the fact that the attack is coming at a time when the wise counsel of the traditional institution is most needed to fight insurgency in that part of the country and to help check moral decadence in our society,” CAN chairman, Ayo Oritsejafor, said in a statement.

Mr. Ortisejafor said Nigerians must resist all forms of intimidation by Boko Haram, and must realize that keeping quiet will not stop the militants from coming after them.

“I want to use this opportunity to remind Nigerians of the need to continue to unite in the fight against terrorism in our land, it is an act that we all must denounce and fight with all that we have got, probably the emirs were attacked for their condemnation of Boko Haram but this must not deter us,” he said.

The slain emir, Mr. Timta, was born in 1942 and attended the Muslim Elementary School Gwoza in 1948 and Senior Primary School Bama between 1952 and 1960.

He later attended the then Provincial Secondary School now Government College Maiduguri between 1960 and 1964, and later obtained HND in Islamic Law from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

He worked in the judiciary in various capacities as an inspector of Area Courts and rose to the rank of Principal Inspector of Area Courts before his appointment as the 3rd chief of Gwoza in October, 1981.

Mr. Timta was elevated to a second class Emir in 1987 and later to 1st class emir in January 2014.

He is survived by four wives, 28 children and many brothers and sisters. Among them are Alh. Haruna Idrisa Timta, the former Head of Service, Borno state Alh. Adamu Idrisa Timta, a Permanent Secretary with the Borno state Government, Alh. Yusuf Timta, Secretary Gwoza Local Govt, and Alh. Umar Timta of the DPR, Maiduguri.