Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has approved the deposition of the traditional rulers of Piriga and Arak Chiefdoms,  His Highness, Jonathan Paragua Zamuna and His Highness, Gen. Aliyu Iliyah Yammah(retd.), respectively.

The state Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Hajiya Umma Ahmad, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying  that the two traditional rulers  ceased to hold their respective offices from Monday.

The commissioner added that the deposition followed  recommendations  from the Ministry of Local Government Affairs in line with the provisions of Section 11 of the Traditional Institutions Law No. 21 of 2021.

The government said, “The District Head of Garun Kurama, Mr Babangida Sule, will oversee the affairs of Piriga Chiefdom, pending the appointment of a new chief, while the Council Secretary has been directed to initiate the process for the appointment of a new chief.

“Mr Gomna Ahmadu, the Council Secretary of Arak Chiefdom, will oversee the affairs of the chiefdom and also initiate the process for the appointment of a new chief.”

According to the statement, “the government found unacceptable the response of General Iliyah Yammah to the query regarding his appointment of four district heads, contrary to the one approved for his chiefdom, and his non-residence within Arak chiefdom.

“The deposition of Jonathan Zamuna follows the recent communal clashes between the Gure and Kitimi communities of Piriga chiefdom in Lere LG, and his non-residence within the chiefdom.”

The statement also announced the immediate disengagement of the village heads of Aban, Abujan Mada and Anjil in Arak Chiefdom.