The Commissioner for Agriculture in Sokoto, Alhaji Arzika Tureta is dead.

He died, aged 62, after a protracted illness.

The Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Muktar Dodo-Iya, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto, that the deceased passed on in the early hours of Monday at the Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUS) leaving behind two wives and seven children,

He revealed that Tureta was once a member representing Tureta local government area in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, before becoming a federal lawmaker representing Bodinga/DangeShuni/Tureta, Federal Constituency.

Similarly, the deceased served as commissioner during former Gov. Aliyu Wamakko’s administration for eight years and was later reappointed by Gov. Aminu Tambuwal for an additional six years.

Meanwhile, preparations for his burial have commenced in his hometown of Tureta, NAN reports.