There is worry in the north over the death of three of the region’s prominent traditional rulers, while health authorities are stil trying to grasp the mysterious death of prominent and not-so-prominent residents of Kano.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been queried as the source despite initial denials by the Kano State government.
But there was palpable anger among many in the State and on social media following the release of photos and a video from the burial ceremony of the Emir of Rano on Saturday that showed a mass of people defying the two weeks lockdown imposed on the State by President Muhammadu Buhari.
There was no effort at social distancing whatsoever at the event.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the head of the Presidential Technical Team sent to Kano to assist the state committee in its response to COVID-19, has fingered the pandemic for the deaths recorded in Kano State recently.
Dr Nasiru Sani Gwarzo told journalists in Kano: “With the preliminary report, most of the deaths recorded of recent and test carried out indicated that coronavirus is the cause.
“Hence, before the final report which would be ready in the next one week or few days, it is necessary for people of the state to wake up from their slumber that this is a serious issue at hand.”
Also, according to Politics Digest, an online newspaper, the core northern parts of the country has been experiencing the tragic loss of its prominent personalities in a mysterious way.
Traditional rulers, including three first class emirs alongside other high rank title holders in various northern emirates formed part of the victims of these deaths.
On Saturday, the Emir of Rano in Kano state, Dr Tafida Abubakar Ila ll, one of the four emirs recently appointed by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for the new emirates, died.
He died at the age of 74 at Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, Kano at about 4:45pm after a brief illness.
He was survived by two wives, 17 children and many grandchildren.
Late Dr Ila was among the four new emirs appointed by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje following the creation of four new emirates of Rano, Karaye, Bichi and Gaya.
Turbaned in May last year, he was appointed first class emir together with the present Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, who was at that time emir of Bichi; Emir of Karaye, Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar ll and Emir of Gaya, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulkadir Gaya.
The late emir was rushed to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital on Friday for medical treatment, but was later referred to the Nassarwa Specialist Hospital for further medical attention.
His death came barely a week after another first Class Emir in Borno State, the Shehu of Bama, Alhaji Kyari Ibn Umar El-Kanemi died.
He died at a hospital Monday afternoon in Maiduguri, the state capital.
The deceased was the seventh Shehu of old Dikwa Emirate that included Bama, Dikwa, Ngala and Kala-Balge local government areas of the State before it was, in 2010, split into two: Bama and Dikwa Emirates headed by two separate First Class Emirs.
Similarly, a death has occurred of the Emir of Kaura Namoda Emirate in Zamfara State, Alhaji Muhammad Asha.
Aged 71, the deceased died of a protected illness at Yariman Bakura Specialists Hospital, Gusau.
Late Muhammad Asha was the second first class Emir of Kaura Namoda and he is the Sixteenth Monarch of the Emirate.
He was appointed as the Emir of Kaura Namoda on the 24th March, 2004.
Until his appointment, he was an accountant, Auditor and Director Finance at Kaura Namoda, Gusau, Bukkuyum local government councils respectively and a Village head Nasarawar Mai-layi in the year 1975.
He became senior District Head (Chief) of Kaura Namoda in the year 2000, a position he held until his appointment as the second Emir of Kaura Namoda.
Also, a senior counsellor in Kano Emirate Council, Prof. Isa Hashim, is dead
Hashim, who was the Jarman Kano, died on Sunday morning after a brief illness.
A family source, Ibrahim Aliyu, told reporters that the 86-year-old traditional title holder died when his health deteriorated following the deaths of some of his childhood friends in quick succession.
Hashim, a Professor of Political Science, was a senior lecturer with Bayero University Kano (BUK) where he taught for many years before his retirement.
His death has added to the list of high profile deaths in Kano in recent times. Started about two weeks ago, it was reported on April 21, that over 150 people died and were buried in Kano cemeteries.
Although the autopsy of these mysterious deaths in quick succession is yet to be confirmed, reports say they may not be unconnected to the novel Coronavirus pandemic currently ravaging the world.
As at Saturday, May 2, 2020, there are 2388 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria with 385 discharged and 85 deaths according to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC. Lagos, Kano and Abuja are the leading casualties of the deadly disease.
▪ Additional reports by Politics Digest
