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By Tracy Moses
Former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji, has raised the alarm over the escalating wave of insecurity plaguing Zamfara State and the wider North-West region, describing the situation as a humanitarian catastrophe that demands urgent national attention.
Addressing journalists at the National Assembly on Wednesday, the lawmaker, who represents Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, painted a harrowing picture of his constituency under siege by violent non-state actors, with lives lost, communities devastated, and the government’s response painfully inadequate.
“In my constituency alone, over 200 people remain in the hands of kidnappers,” Jaji lamented. “Communities such as Banga, Kurya Maduro, and Gawaki have become targets of repeated attacks. Innocent people are being slaughtered, abducted, and displaced. Our people are crying for help, but no one seems to be listening.”
Jaji recalled the optimism that followed the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, especially regarding his pledges to tackle insecurity head-on. However, he expressed deep disappointment that the reality on the ground has deteriorated significantly since then.
“We gave our people hope that with a new government would come decisive action against banditry and terrorism,” he said. “But instead, the violence has worsened.”
He cited a chilling incident in Banga, where 60 residents were abducted. Despite a ransom payment of N30 million, ten of the victims were executed by their captors, an act Jaji described as both tragic and senseless.
“People raised and paid ransom with the hope of saving lives, but were instead handed the corpses of their loved ones. This is not just a security failure, it is a moral and constitutional collapse. The government’s foremost responsibility is to protect lives and property, yet we are failing.”
The lawmaker also shared gut-wrenching stories from his constituency that underline the depth of the crisis. Among them was the killing of an epileptic boy abducted with his family, who was tortured before being shot dead. In another account, a pregnant woman abducted by bandits gave birth to twins in captivity. The newborns, Jaji said, were seized and thrown to dogs by the armed men.
“This is not criminality. This is barbarism,” he declared. “Our people are living through unspeakable horrors. No citizen should ever be subjected to this level of cruelty.”
Beyond the human toll, Jaji warned that the worsening insecurity has crippled local economies, particularly agrarian communities that can no longer access their farmlands due to the constant threat of violence. This, he noted, has exacerbated poverty and forced mass displacement across the region.
He also expressed frustration over what he described as the government’s lethargic response, revealing that despite writing formally to the Minister of Defence, no meaningful intervention had been deployed to his constituency.
“Our duty as leaders is to protect the people. If we cannot guarantee their safety, then we have failed in the most fundamental way,” he stated.
Jaji called for an urgent, multi-layered response that includes stronger collaboration between security agencies, traditional institutions, and local stakeholders. He particularly emphasized the role of traditional rulers in intelligence gathering and community mobilization.
“Traditional leaders have been pushed aside, but they are key to restoring order. We must return to community-driven security solutions if we are to stand a chance,” he urged.
Asked about possible internal collaboration with criminal networks, Jaji admitted that criminal syndicates have taken advantage of weak governance structures to entrench themselves. He stressed the need for strategic intelligence gathering and trust-building between law enforcement and the local population.
On the issue of foreign mercenaries, he expressed skepticism, arguing that long-term security must be built on local capacity, not outsourced.
“Foreign mercenaries may provide temporary relief, but the solution must be homegrown, rooted in community resilience and institutional reform,” he said.
Jaji warned that if insecurity continues unchecked in the North-West, its ripple effects could destabilize the entire nation.
“This is no longer just a regional problem. It is a national emergency. If we fail to act decisively, the consequences will be devastating for us all.”
He concluded with a passionate appeal to all Nigerians, across political, religious, and ethnic lines, to join forces in addressing the crisis.
“This is beyond politics. This is about human lives. We must come together, government, civil society, traditional leaders, and everyday citizens, to reclaim our country from the grip of terror. Security is everyone’s responsibility.”