Emir of Zurmi Bello Suleiman dies in Zamfara State

Bello Suleiman, the Emir of Zurmi in Zamfara State, has died. According to a statement from the palace, the traditional ruler passed away on Monday afternoon at the Federal Medical Centre in Gusau, the state capital.

Suleiman had occupied the throne for five years. He succeeded his uncle, Abubakar Atiku, who was deposed by the state government in 2021 and formally removed in 2022 due to alleged ties to banditry and interference with security operations. Atiku later died in an Egyptian hospital.

The Zurmi region has faced significant security challenges. In May 2024, bandits attacked the emir’s palace, killing three security personnel and abducting several residents. During that incident, attackers also vandalized a telecommunications facility to disrupt communications. Residents reported that the attackers had accused the late monarch of being indifferent to the treatment of Fulani residents by local vigilantes.