Chief Priest of Zaar Traditional Beliefs and Socio-Cultural Human Rights Defender, Comrade Mbami Iliya Sabka, has described the suspension of the Lemb Zaar festival by the Bauchi State Police Command as a violation of the constitutional rights to freedom of religion and worship.
He emphasised that the suspension would hinder Zaar traditionalists from practicing their customs and beliefs, preventing them from freely associating in accordance with their faith.
In a letter addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, Comrade Sabka argued that the Lemb Zaar is a “Protected Religious Festival Practice.” He expressed disappointment with the police’s decision, writing:
“I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I write to you on behalf of the Gung Zaar Council for Zaar Kingdom to formally and intellectually respond to your press release dated September 27, 2024, regarding the suspension of the annual Lemb Zaar Traditional/Cultural Festival scheduled for November 2, 2024.”
He added that his response is focused on “addressing the legal points concerning religious freedom and countering the stated security concerns.”
In explaining the historical context and significance of the Lemb Zaar, Comrade Sabka highlighted the deep-rooted traditions of the Zaar (Sayawa) people:
“The Zaar (Sayawa) people have a rich and ancient history, with roots tracing back to ancient Yemen and a presence in the Tafawa-Balewa and Bogoro regions predating 1000 AD. The Lemb Zaar festival is one of our most significant cultural and religious events, marking the commencement of the harvest season.”
He further noted the religious importance of the festival:
“This festival is a vital aspect of our traditional beliefs, where rituals and prayers are offered to the god of rains, land, and fruits, known as ‘Chong Fyali,’ to ensure bountiful harvests and societal harmony.”
Mbami Iliya Sabka stressed that “it is imperative to highlight that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and belief. According to Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), every individual is entitled to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including the freedom to change their religion or belief and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate their religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice, and observance.”
He further pointed out, “Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution also guarantees the right to freedom of association. It states that every person is entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular, he may form or belong to any political party, trade union, or any other association for the protection of his interests.”
According to him, “The Lemb Zaar festival is a purely traditional and religious practice akin to other religious celebrations such as Christmas, Easter, and Sallah. We, the traditional worshippers of the Zaar Traditional Beliefs, seek to independently exercise our constitutional rights to freedom of association, assembly, and expression by celebrating our traditions on the first Saturday of November 2024. Just as other religions in Nigeria express themselves during their Christmas and Sallah celebrations, we wish to do the same.”
Sabka stressed, “It is settled that we, the traditionalist worshippers, will celebrate our Lemb Zaar annual festival at our venue, independently, under the umbrella of the Gung Zaar Council for Zaar Kingdom. We advise other Christian associations within Zaar Kingdom who may wish to celebrate the god of Lemb Zaar to also freely express themselves in their respective venues.”
He added, “It is clear that during Christmas celebrations, every registered church celebrates in its own local venue. For example, Catholics celebrate in Catholic churches, while ECWA, COCIN, Redeemed, Deeper Life, and Olumba Olumba, etc., all celebrate in their respective venues. No one is forced to celebrate together, and each group respects the autonomy of the others.”
Sabka concluded by stating, “As such, any attempt to suspend or interfere with this festival infringes upon the religious rights of the Zaar traditionalists. The decision to suspend the festival on the grounds of security concerns is political and discriminatory, while understandable, and should not undermine these constitutionally protected rights.”
According to him, “Addressing the Inaccuracies in the Police Statement Rivalry and Civil Unrest on December 29, 2021: Sir, your statement mentions rivalries among factions within the Zaar Development Association (ZDA) and the Zaar Youth Development Association (ZAYODA) leading to civil unrest on December 29, 2021, during the Baba Gonto anniversary. This assertion is inaccurate.”
The Traditional Chief Priest stressed that “the factions you referenced—Galla vs. Danny within the ZDA and Iliya vs. Garba within ZAYODA—did not exist in 2021. Moreover, proactive measures and communications were made to the police to prevent any occurrences, but these warnings were not heeded.”
He added, “Incident on September 15, 2024: The claim of a violent clash in Tafawa-Balewa on September 15, 2024, between ZAYODA factions resulting in the destruction of property worth millions of naira is also false. ZAYODA had written a letter to the Tafawa-Balewa DPO requesting proactive measures to prevent any incidents, yet no action was taken by the police until after the altercation occurred.”
“The assertion that property worth millions of naira was damaged is an exaggeration; if such extensive damage had occurred, it would have been widely reported,” he added.
On the legal standing of the Gung Zaar Council, he explained, “It is important to note that the Gung Zaar Council for Zaar Kingdom, as a legally recognised traditional institution, does not have any pending case before any court of competent jurisdiction. We are aware of the ongoing election cases involving the Zaar Youth Development Association (ZAYODA) and the Zaar Development Association (ZDA) before Upper Shariah Court III, but these do not implicate the Gung Zaar Council directly or the Lemb Zaar festival.”
He then requested for reconsideration, stating that, “In light of the above points, we respectfully request the Bauchi State Police Command to reconsider the suspension of the Lemb Zaar festival. We propose a collaborative approach wherein the police work with the Gung Zaar Council and community leaders to establish a comprehensive security plan that addresses all potential threats while allowing the festival to take place as scheduled.”
Mbami Iliya Sabka concluded, stating that “We trust that the Bauchi State Police Command will recognise the significance of the Lemb Zaar festival to the Zaar traditional worshippers and uphold our constitutional right to religious freedom and traditional practices. We are open to dialogue and cooperation to ensure a peaceful and successful festival.”
The letter was copied to Kayode ADEOLU Egbetokun, PHD, NPM, The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), The Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), The Commissioner, Ministry of Security and Internal Affairs, Bauchi State, and the attention of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), as well as all other Traditional worshippers in Nigeria.
