Emir of Zurmi Bello Suleiman Dies After Five-Year Reign

Bello Suleiman, the Emir of Zurmi, passed away on Monday afternoon at the Federal Medical Centre in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State. He had been in power for five years, having succeeded his uncle, Abubakar, who was deposed by the Zamfara State government in 2021 and formally removed in April 2022 due to accusations of links to banditry and undermining security operations.

Suleiman's reign was marred by violence, notably in May 2024, when armed bandits attacked the emirate palace, killing three security personnel and abducting the emir's chief detail, Yusuf, along with two others, Aliyu Ahmed and Sa'idu Lawali. The attackers also vandalized a local MTN telecommunications facility, disrupting communication and hindering security reinforcements.

Residents indicated that the bandits were motivated by grievances over the treatment of Fulani residents by local vigilante groups. The death of Bello Suleiman adds to the instability faced by traditional institutions in the region since 2021.