Africa-Press – Nigeria. A retired Army officer, Brigadier-General Marcus Kokko Yake (rtd), has been elected as the first officially recognised Gung-Za’ar (traditional ruler) of the newly created Za’ar Chiefdom in Bauchi State.
His emergence followed the provisions of the Za’ar Chiefdom Law 2025, which guided the election process after the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs issued a public notice inviting interested candidates to declare their intention for the stool.
According to a statement signed by the ministry’s Information Officer, Khadija Danladi Hassan Kobi, and dated October 26, 2025, seven applications were received, screened, and cleared for the contest.
“The Electoral College, as stipulated by the law, was duly constituted. Three candidates withdrew before the election, leaving four to contest,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, controversy has continued to trail the creation of the Zaar Chiefdom and the decision to site its headquarters in Mhrim, Tafawa Balewa local government area as well as making the town a Sayawa District.
The Bauchi State Muslim Parliament (Majlisshura Unity Foundation) accused the Bauchi State government and Bauchi State House of Assembly of contempt of court over the creation.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Sheikh Yusuf Abdullahi Jahun and made available to DAILY POST, the foundation said the move violates an ongoing court case challenging the government’s decision and ignores previous recommendations by several committees.
“On behalf of the entire Muslim Community of Bauchi State, we find it necessary to draw the attention of the world on the bill passed by the Bauchi State House of Assembly and assented to by the State Governor, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, creating the Zaar Chiefdom and siting its headquarters in Mhrm in Tafawa Balewa as well as making the town a Sayawa District,” the statement read.
The foundation recalled that in December 2024, the Bauchi State government announced the creation of the Sayawa Chiefdom out of the Bauchi Emirate, with its headquarters in Tafawa Balewa.
It also said the decision was widely rejected by the Muslim community through various Islamic organisations including the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), The Supreme Council for the Defense of the Shariah (SCDS), The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), and The Bauchi State Muslim Parliament (Majis-Shurah) among others.
According to the Majlisshura, opposition to the chiefdom was based on historical grievances and security concerns.
It alleged that between 1991 and 2011, over 500 Muslims were killed in Tafawa Balewa and its environs, while 48 mosques were destroyed.
“No single house or shop belonging to the Muslims now exist in the town and the entire Muslims of the town were displaced and are now residing as IDPs in other places,” the foundation noted.
“In line with afore-mentioned brief about the atrocities and other forms of provocations, we wish to bring to the notice of the entire world that Muslims are not against the creation of the Sayawa Chiefdom. However, our major bone of contention is the siting of its headquarters in Tafawa Balewa,” the foundation clarified.
It added that “We wish to state clearly that the action of the Bauchi State government at this moment is a grave injustice against the Muslims of Bauchi State.
The said Mhrim is a ward in Tafawa Balewa town and all the historical accounts, evidence and trajectories of the founders of the town indicated that the town and all its surrounding villages belong to the Fulani tribe.”
The statement added that none of the five committees previously constituted to address the Tafawa Balewa crisis including the Babalakin (1991), Shehu Awak (1993), Justice Bala Umar (2001), General Sabo (2011), and Ambassador Dada Chinade (2022) panels recommended siting the Sayawa Chiefdom headquarters in Tafawa Balewa.
DAILY POST reports that governor Bala Mohammed had earlier signed into law a bill establishing 13 new emirates and creating over 100 districts across Bauchi State as well as the repeal of the Sayawa Chiefdom and enactment of the Zaar Chiefdom with headquarters at Mhrim community in Tafawa Balewa local government area.
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