The Zazzau emirate was Friday thrown into mourning following the death of two Princes and council members.
The princes who died are – Alhaji Bashir Aminu (Iyan Zazzua) and Alhaji Abdulkadir Iya Pate (Talban Zazzau).
Iyan Zazzau who was a major contender for the emirship following the death of the immediate past traditional ruler, Alhaji Dr. Shehu Idris, died in Lagos.
He was said to have been ill, according to a tweet by the Zazzau Emirate.
Talban Zazzau, on the other hand, died at his residence.
There was no hint that he was ill.
Funeral prayers for the two were scheduled to take place at the Emir’s Palace in Zaria after Jumaat prayers Friday.
In other news, Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai has exercised his prerogative of mercy and ordered the release of 12 convicts to celebrate the New Year.
In a statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, 10 out of the pardoned criminals had six months or less to serve. The other two pardoned inmates were released on age ground.
One of the released prisoners, Tunde Ikuenaya was imprisoned on November 16, 2017, for four years. The 64-year-old was imprisoned for criminal misappropriation and would be released on March 16, 2021, Adekeye noted.
Other pardoned prisoners are, Ifeanyi Chiebuike Nweke, Mohammed Mamman Santare, and Samaila Danjuma. They were convicted and sentenced at various times for culpable homicide, the statement revealed.
Governor el-Rufai also commuted Joshua Yashim’s death sentence to life imprisonment according to Adekeye’s statement. Yashim was to be executed by hanging for culpable homicide on June 9, 2011.