Reports say, two Zamfara State House of Assembly members that were reported to have ‘celebrated’ the abduction speaker’s father have been suspended for three months.
The two suspended lawmakers were Ibrahim Tudu-Tukur (Bakura) and Yusuf Anka (Anka).
According to the spokesperson of the House, Mustapha Jaafar Kaura, the members were suspended for “celebrating when the speaker’s father and other kidnapped family members of the speaker”.
The Speaker’s family members were kidnapped in September at his country home in Magarya.
While others were recently released, his father is believed to have died in the hands of the bandits, aides of the Speaker had told Premium Times.
“They are to appear before the house committee on ethics and privileges in conjuction with security agencies that are assigned by law to investigate them,” Mr Jaafar said.
Mr Jaafar said a member of the House, Yusuf Kanoma, raised the issue at the plenary on Tuesday, alleging that the two lawmakers “were suspected by members of the public of aiding bandits”.
“Kanoma further alleged that during the kidnap saga of the father of the Speaker, late Alhaji Mu’azu Abubakar Magarya, in particular Yusuf Muhammad Anka and Ibrahim T Tukur Bakura were said to have been jubilating over the issue.
Premium Times reported that it could not reach the two suspended lawmakers or Mr Kanoma for their comments on the report as telecommunications services have been cut in Zamfara due to ongoing military operations to flush out bandits.
The two local government areas the lawmakers represent are among the hardest hits by bandits’ attacks and kidnappings.
