By ABUBAKAR AHMED

The Zamfara Police Command has beefed up security around the Emir of Shinkafi, Alhaji Muhammad Makwashi, to forestall breakdown of law and order over alleged disturbance.

The emir came under fire from some chieftaincy holders and residents of Shinkafi over the recent traditional title of Sadauki (Defender) given to former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, by the emirate council.

The command Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Shehu, who made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau on Sunday, said this was done since Friday.

According to the police spokesman, the emirate council learned that some people were planning to lead a demonstration within Shinkafi.

“The emirate wrote to the Police Command seeking protection and to avert any breakdown of law and order which is what we did as a security outfit.

“We also deployed our patrol teams throughout Shinkafi so that peace and order can be maintained because the Commissioner of Police, Mr Usman Nagogo has always warned people from taking the law into their own hands.

“If anyone has grudges against any other person or persons, there are established legal channels to take such grudges to, including going to the courts but we will not allow anyone to cause any trouble,” Shehu explained.

He reiterated that what was happening in Shinkafi was not ‘house arrest’ of the emir as being speculated but protection for the emir

Also while speaking to NAN, a close associate of the emirate council, Alhaji Murtala Dale, said “we suspected moves by some miscreants to attack the emir while on his way for Friday prayers which was why we requested the police for protection.

“You see all these are coming as a result of the recent traditional title given to Femi Fani-Kayode by the emir which some people condemned,” he said.

NAN reports that critics of the title were not happy with several comments against the North, northerners, Hausa/Fulani, Islam and the Sultanate which they alleged were attributed to the former minister. (NAN)