Umaru Bago Tafida III (born 1954) is the 12th Emir, Etsu, or traditional ruler of Lapai in

Niger State Niger State is a state in the North Central (Nigeria), North Central region of Nigeria, bordered to the east by Kaduna State and the Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria), Federal Capital Territory, to the north by Kebbi State and Zamfara State, ...

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

appointed in July 2002. He succeeded Emir Alhaji

Muhammadu Kobo Muhammadu Kobo dan Aliyu Gana, OBE, CON (1910 – 13 June 2002) was the 11th Etsu Lapai of Lapai Emirate, a traditional state from (1953 – June 2002) succeeded by his nephew Umaru Bago Tafida II the 12th Etsu Lapai. Education and career Et ...

, who died at the age of 92 after ruling for 48 years, and was appointed to the stool by the Niger State governor Abdulkadir Kure. Umaru's turbanning and presentation of staff of office was attended by Vice president

Atiku Abubakar Atiku Abubakar (; born 25 November 1946) is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as the vice president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 during the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo. He ran for the office of governor of Adamawa State i ...

and former Military President

Ibrahim Babangida Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (born 17 August 1941) is a Nigerian statesman and military dictator who ruled as military president of Nigeria from 1985 when he orchestrated a coup d'état against his military and political arch-rival Muhammadu ...

Biography

As a member of the Niger State Council of Chiefs, in March 2003, he endorsed the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the upcoming elections. Other members of the council endorsing the PDP included the

Etsu Nupe The Bida Emirate is a traditional state in Nigeria, a successor to the old Nupe Kingdom, with its headquarters in Bida, Niger State. The head of the emirate is the ''Etsu Nupe'', who is the leader of the Nupe people. History The old Nupe Kingd ...

( Sanda Ndayako), Emir of Suleja (

Awwal Ibrahim Alhaji Mohammed Awwal Ibrahim (born September 8, 1941) is a Nigerian traditional ruler who served as governor of Niger State from October 1979 to December 1983 during the Nigerian Second Republic. He was elected on the National Party of Nigeria ...

), Etsu Agaie, Emir of Minna and Emir of Kagara. In January 2009, he was among leaders supporting

Edo State Edo State, Edo, officially known as Edo State, is a States of Nigeria, state in the South South, South-South Geopolitical zones of Nigeria, geopolitical zone of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As of 2024, the state was ranked as the List of Ni ...

governor Adams Oshiomhole in calling for a probe into corruption in the 1999-2007 administration of President

Olusegun Obasanjo Chief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu Obasanjo (; ; born 5 March 1937) is a Nigerian former army general, politician and statesman who served as Nigeria's head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as its president from 1999 to 200 ...

. In July 2009, he was part of a delegation led by the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji

Yahaya Abubakar Brig. Gen. Yahaya Abubakar (Rtd) Order of the Federal Republic, CFR is a first class traditional ruler (Emir or Amir) who has been the 12th Etsu Nupe, or King of the Nupe Kingdom, since 2003. His royal stool is situated in Bida, Niger state. Bac ...

and including the Etsu Agaie, Muhammadu Kudu Abubakar that called on the House of Assembly to consider formation of a new Edu State as a base for the

Nupe people The Nupe (traditionally called the ''Nufawa'' by the Hausa people, Hausas and ''Tapa'' by the neighbouring Yoruba people, Yoruba) are an ethnic group native to North Central Nigeria. They are the dominant ethnic group in Niger State and an impor ...

. In June 2010, a clash between

Fulani The Fula, Fulani, or Fulɓe people are an ethnic group in Sahara, Sahel and West Africa, widely dispersed across the region. Inhabiting many countries, they live mainly in West Africa and northern parts of Central Africa, South Sudan, Darfur, ...

cattle herdsmen and Nupe farmers in Lapai Emirate caused about 15 deaths. The Fulanis, who arrived by bus armed with sophisticated weapons and waited for villagers to emerge from the Mosque after prayers, were apparently seeking revenge for an earlier killing. Fidau prayers were held at the palace of Umar Bago before the bodies were interred.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tafida, Umaru Bago 1954 births Living people Emirs of Lapai Nupe Nigerian traditional rulers