I inherited big shoes, by assassinated Babakura Fugu

But shortly after the extra-judicial killing of the 72 year old patriarch of the family, Babakura, being the eldest son in the family, assumed the position of a leader of the extended family. Alas! Unlike his father who nurtured the family for decades, Babakura’s forte was very short. He only had a stint of just […]

But shortly after the extra-judicial killing of the 72 year old patriarch of the family, Babakura, being the eldest son in the family, assumed the position of a leader of the extended family.

Alas! Unlike his father who nurtured the family for decades, Babakura’s forte was very short. He only had a stint of just two years as head of the family and was also murdered on Saturday September 17, 2011.

But less than 48 hours before his sudden demise, late Babakura had told journalists that his late father had left behind, “a big shoe which my feet is finding extremely difficult to fill.”

Sadly, his younger ones are now repeating the same statement he made. “We have lost a rare gem,” said one of the younger brothers of the deceased, who for certain reasons, said he does not want his name in print.

“His (Babakura’s) death has widened the gap which the death of our father had created in the family but we have taken solace in the fact that God knows why he took them away”.

One of his sisters, who also spoke in confidence, said late Babakura had taken the affairs of the family very dear in his life. “He never abandoned us,” she said. “Despite the fact that he was not financially buoyant, he was a brother every person would be proud to have. Even though some of us are married, Babakura had designated time of visiting our matrimonial homes to find out how we are faring,” the lady said.

Late Babakura had shortly before his death said as a teacher; it was difficult shouldering the enormous responsibilities that his father left behind.

“Religiously and traditionally, it will be bad for me to leave my father’s estate to rot away. The fact is that I am a teacher and my father was a gum Arabic monger…you can see the difference but I was not deterred in my determination to see that my siblings go to school and when the girls have suitors, they get married,” he said.

He recalled that a few days ago, one of his younger brothers got admission in the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) and another one in the Ramat Polytechnic.

“All of us in the family are doing our best to ensure that we live a reputable life. The family is extremely large because our father left behind four wives and many people from the extended family, including acquaintances are still living with us, despite the absence of our father,” he said.

Sunday Trust recalled that the Fugu’s family house was reduced to shreds in 2009, shortly after the patriarch of the family was killed in the wake of the crises that engulfed Maiduguri.

Since then, the family did not live in a single house even as it waged an endless legal battle against the federal and state governments, seeking compensation and resettlement of the family among other demands.

Though the struggle did not attract much media attention, the recent visit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the family attracted media attention.

When Channels Television showed some clips of the former president’s visit, the development attracted extensive media attention, occasioned by various commentaries, especially on the issues discussed.

“We had fruitful discussions, including the case we won at the Borno State High Court of Justice which said all the people and establishments that had a hand in our ordeal should apologize to us, pay us compensation and rebuild our family house,” Babakura said.

He added that the case which had the Attorney General of the Federation, the Inspector General of police and the Borno State Government as respondents is now at the Court of Appeal in Jos.

Babakura’s death sparked off various responses from different quarters. Obasanjo, who was the last August visitor to the Fugu family, said he received the news of the killing with great shock.

Chief organizer of the meeting and human rights crusader, Comrade Shehu Sani, said the role he played in the meeting was in good faith.

Sani who is the Director of the Civil Right Congress (CRC) said: “We did what we did with the best of intentions. We believe in peace and justice that is why we weaved into the matter,” he said.

He told newsmen that at the “most appropriate time” he will give full details of what transpired between Obasanjo and the in-laws of the late Mohammed Yusuf in Maiduguri.

On the day Babakura died, a lone gunman appeared in one of the family houses in Maiduguri and fired some shots at his target, who was in the midst of his friends and fled.

The Jama’atu Ahlil Sunna Lidda’awati wal Jihad had since exonerated itself from Babakura’s killing stating that they did not kill the Fugu bread winner.

The Yusifiyya movement also even went ahead and warned journalists and media houses against jumping the gun. “You must hear from our side before going to the press,” spokesman of the group, Abul-Qaqa, said in a statement.

“We received with shock, the unfortunate killing of the family member of our leader, Sheik Muhammed Yusuf,” Qaqa said.

Indisputably, the demise of Babakura, who was about 47 years old, will remain a big blow to the already bereaved family.

He left behind two wives and 10 children and until his death, he was the vice principal of Arabic Teachers College (ATC) in Maiduguri.

The puzzle remains whether another leader will emerge from the family. A force that will continue from where Babakura abruptly stopped; a person who will continue pursuing the court case instituted by the family so that if the litigation finally favours them, they would once again have a house that will keep the large family together.