A coalition known as the Northern Citizens Alliance for Justice has called on President Bola Tinubu to promptly declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State to address ongoing security issues.
The group cited a “total breakdown of governance” and alleged complicity of state officials in illegal mining operations as reasons for their demand for emergency rule.
In a statement released in Kaduna, the group’s president, Kabiru Bako, emphasized that effective intervention in Zamfara is impossible without removing the political actors who benefit from the crisis.
“What we are witnessing in Zamfara is not governance, but a systematic neglect of duty by elected officials,” Bako stated.
He pointed out that the state lacks a functional House of Assembly, has no political will to curb violence, and faces growing allegations against officials tied to illegal mining. “This situation is a betrayal of the people,” he added.
The group characterized the security crisis in Zamfara as a “slow-burning war” that is being ignored at the nation’s peril. Residents are reportedly paying levies to bandits for the right to farm or travel while state officials remain preoccupied with political maneuvering.
“In towns like Zurmi, Shinkafi, Anka, and Bukkuyum, people no longer feel safe to attend school, visit markets, or even sleep soundly. Women are being abducted, children recruited, and entire communities are taxed by non-state actors. Meanwhile, the government is only trading blame,” Bako said.
The group further noted that the absence of a properly constituted state assembly reinforces the collapse of democracy in Zamfara.
“Currently, Zamfara has no legally recognized House of Assembly. Ten lawmakers were suspended for speaking out about the security situation, which means the state is operating without the necessary checks and balances of a democratic system. This is a dictatorship of silence, and the victims are the vulnerable citizens,” he explained.
They also accused the state government of protecting illegal miners, claiming that proceeds from unregulated mining are funding criminal activities.
“The hands that should be safeguarding Zamfara are instead profiting from its destruction,” Bako stated.
He urged President Tinubu to take decisive action, not just rhetoric, by declaring a state of emergency and appointing a non-partisan administrator to restore order and rebuild institutions.
“If this action is not taken soon, we risk allowing Zamfara to become a permanent stronghold for terror groups. The nation cannot afford to look away; lives are lost daily, and governance has vanished,” he concluded.
The Northern Citizens Alliance for Justice plans to submit a detailed report to the National Assembly and the National Security Adviser to support their appeal.
