Alhaji Mohammed Ahmad Asha, the Emir of Kaura-Namoda in Zamfara State, died in isolation in the early hours of Sunday.
Information gathered by our correspondent revealed that he died of suspected coronavirus-related complications.
In a related development, a member of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, representing Nasarawa central, Mr Sule Adamu, has also died of COVID-19, as confirmed by the State Governor Abdullahi Sule.
Sule confirmed the death of the legislator on Sunday while briefing newsmen on the update of COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
Sequel to the development, he said the state’s House of Assembly would be shut down and all the state lawmakers will be quarantined to contain the spread of the virus in the state.
According to the Publicity Secretary for the Control and Prevention of COVID-19 in Zamfara State, Alhaji Mustafa Jafaru Kaura, the Emir had been in isolation at the Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau three days ago.
Kaura explained that the Emir’s blood sample had been sent to Abuja for the COVID-19 test, but however, “the result is still being awaited”.
“The remains of the late Emir is still in the hospital waiting for burial by officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control”, he stated.
The deceased was 71 years, and assumed office in 2004, when he was appointed Emir by the first civilian Governor of the state, Alhaji Sani Yariman Bakura.