Gombe Moves to Compensate Victims of Billiri Crisis

By Segun Awofadeji

An assessment committee set up by the Gombe State Government after the Billiri royal throne crisis in the state early this year has reported that no fewer than eight lives with property worth N531, 358, 468 million were lost in the crisis.

The report also stated that no fewer than 51 persons sustained various degrees of injuries during the mayhem.

The violence erupted after the people suspected that the state government wanted to subvert their choice of a new Mai Tangle.

The silence exhibited by the state government after the election by the kingmakers resulted to the rising tension which generated to full scale violence on February 19, 2021.

Rising from its State Executive Council (SEC) meeting yesterday, the state government said it was looking at the possibility of compensating those who were badly affected by the crisis.

The state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr. Julius Ishaya, who briefed journalists, said a five-man committee made up of four unnamed commissioners and the Chairman of Billiri Local Government Area, Margaret Bitrus, was formed to look at ways of compensating the victims.

According to the report of the assessment committee, which the council ratified during the meeting, 41 houses worth over N94,666,000 million were destroyed.

The report also stated that 401 corporate business places, 335 individual business places as well as 66 others belonging to Billiri LGA valued at N148,135,000 million were destroyed.

He said 33 worship centres worth over N33,129,000 million and other property such as cars, animals among many others, worth over N31,480,000 million were destroyed, making a total sum of N542,258,468 million.

The commissioner said the council mandated the five-man committee to proffer ways of generating funds to compensate the victims, including the local council, whose property were also destroyed.