The Emir of Biu, Umar Mustapha Aliyu, died on Monday night at the Federal Medical Center (Federal Teaching Hospital), Gombe after a brief illness.

A family source confirmed the death to journalists, saying that the emir is survived by four wives and over 70 children with close to 200 grandchildren.

The Emir was born on the 9th of November 1940 in Biu. He attended Kwaya Kusar Junior Primary School between 1947 and 1949 and Biu Central Primary School from 1950 to 1953 and afterwards he proceeded to Hausari Primary School in Maiduguri between 1953 and 1955.

He was at various times a Veterinary attendant (1958), member representing Biu Emirate at the Borno State Council of Arts and Culture, and District Head of Biu town from 1975 to 1989 when he became the Emir of Biu.

A former senator, Shehu Sanni, while mourning the deceased tweeted, “My condolences to the Government and people of Borno State over the demise of the Emir of Biu His Royal Highness Alhaji Mustapha Aliyu. May Allah in his infinite mercy grant him Aljanna firdausi. Amin.”