Aminu Jaji, a member of the House of Representatives from Zamfara State, has raised alarm over the escalating security crisis in his constituency, describing a dire situation marked by repeated bandit attacks, mass kidnappings, and widespread displacement.
Addressing journalists at the National Assembly, Jaji, who formerly chaired the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, revealed that over 200 attacks have been recorded across Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, including in communities such as Dayo, Banga, Gabaki, Korea, and Madura.
“Just two days ago, 60 people were abducted in Banga. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of 30 million naira. Out of those abducted, 10 were killed, and the fate of the remaining 50 hangs in the balance,” he said. Jaji criticised what he described as the gap between political promises and action on the ground. “We gave assurances that if our party came to power, insecurity would become history. Unfortunately, the reality today is different,” he stated, lamenting that many communities have become ghost towns.
He recounted horrific incidents that underscore the brutality of the crisis, including the abduction of a pregnant woman who gave birth in captivity. “Then the leader of the bandit took the twins. Then he throw it to his dog. The dog eat the twins one by one. Where are we?” he asked in anguish. In another incident, he said, a child with epilepsy was executed by bandits for falling in their presence.
“These are not just stories. These are the everyday realities of our people. Our people are no longer safe, they cannot farm, they cannot trade, and many are internally displaced, unrecognized by both the state and federal governments,” Jaji said. He condemned the federal government’s lack of response despite engaging with the Ministry of Defence and other security agencies.
Zamfara, once regarded as a bastion of peace, has descended into a hub of criminal activity. “Despite the introduction of Sharia and peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians in the past, we are now ravaged by violence,” Jaji said. He emphasized that the people of Zamfara deserve the same level of protection as citizens elsewhere, especially given the state’s significant contribution to President Bola Tinubu’s electoral victory in 2023.
“This is not about politics anymore. It’s about human lives. The 1999 Constitution, as amended, states clearly that the protection of lives and property is the primary responsibility of government,” he added. He urged President Tinubu and all relevant authorities to act with urgency, warning that if left unchecked, the insecurity in Zamfara could engulf the nation.
“People cry to us for help. They come in tears. They are not moving because they know where to go, they are moving because they have no other choice,” Jaji said. Calling for a unified, cross-party and interfaith response to what he termed a national emergency, he concluded, “We must rise above politics. We must respond as people of faith and conscience.”
