Reactions have trailed the suspension of the 2024 edition of the popular annual cultural festival in the North Eastern of Nigeria which is celebrated in every first Saturday of November in Bauchi State, known as Lemp Zaar, which is organized by Zaar Sayawa ethnics in Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas.
The Bauchi State Police Command in a Press Release issued and signed by its spokesperson, Ahmed Wakili said, “Intelligence available to the Command indicated an imminent threat of a violent clash as the ZAAR (Sayawa) Development Association had scheduled simultaneous meetings at the ZDA Permanent Secretariat in Tafawa Balewa LGA, which as a result, the Command found it necessary to suspend the 2024 Annual Lemp Zaar traditional/cultural festival in the interest of public safety”
But, in a response to the Police, a statement by Gung Zaar Council for Zaar kingdom said, Lemb Zaar festival is one of their most significant cultural and religious events, marking the commencement of the harvest season, citing its roots in ancient history tracing back to ancient Yemen in both Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro regions that predates 1000 AD.
According to them, the suspension of Lemb Zaar festival infringes on the Constitutional rights of the people as guaranteed by the provisions on freedom of religion under Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
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According to them, the Lemp Zaar festival is purely tradition and religious practice akin to other religious celebrations such as Christmas, Easter and Sallah and such, as traditional worshippers of Zaar beliefs are observed also.
The traditionalists debunked the claims in the Police Press Release of a violent clash in Tafawa Balewa town on September 15, 2024 between Zaar Youths Development Association fractions, resulting in destruction of property worth millions of Naira and some other claims, as false.
The Zaar traditionalists therefore described the decision to suspend the festival on the grounds of Security concerns as political and discriminatory.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
