Aminu Jaji, a member of the House of Representatives from Zamfara State, has raised alarm over the worsening insecurity in his constituency, sharing disturbing accounts of killings, kidnappings, and displaced residents.
In a chilling revelation on Wednesday, May 14, Jaji narrated how “bandits fed newborn twins to their dogs” after abducting a pregnant woman who gave birth while in captivity.
“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, unrecognised by both the state and federal governments,” he said.
Jaji, who previously chaired the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, disclosed that over 200 attacks have been recorded in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area alone, affecting communities like Dayo, Banga, Gabaki, Korea and Madura.
“Just two days ago, 60 people were abducted in Banga. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of N30 million.
“Out of those abducted, 10 were killed, and the fate of the remaining 50 hang in the balance,” he told journalists at the National Assembly.
He criticised the government’s failure to fulfil campaign promises on security. “We gave assurances that if our party came to power, insecurity will become history. Unfortunately, the reality today is different,” he said.
Jaji described the current state of Zamfara as a shadow of its former self. “Despite the introduction of Sharia and peaceful co-existence between Muslims and Christians in the past, we are now ravaged by violence,” he said.
He urged President Bola Tinubu and relevant security agencies to act swiftly, warning that the violence could spread across Nigeria if left unchecked.
“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 said.
Jaji also appealed for unity among leaders, saying, “We must rise above politics. We must respond as people of faith and conscience. This is a national emergency.”
Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, linked the rising insecurity to conflict spillovers from Sudan and Niger.
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“The issue of insecurity is still there and it is worrisome. But we are working very closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser in Nigeria to offer help in this area,” he said at a press briefing in Abuja.
He added, “The problem of insecurity in Nigeria is complicated by the fact that it is a spillover from the crisis in the Sahel region, particularly in Sudan and Niger.”
Montgomery also expressed concern about visa fraud in Nigeria, advising applicants to provide accurate documentation to avoid rejections.
He praised Nigeria’s economic reforms, describing the country as increasingly attractive for investment. “The reforms are making Nigeria more investable.
“We agree with the World Bank Report recently released that the Naira is now more stable and foreign exchange predictability enhances business and investments,” he said.
On the security front, Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said the military remains committed to defeating terrorism across Nigeria.
“We are more than ever determined to go after all the non-state actors to restore peace and stability in the country,” he said during a psychological operations workshop in Abuja.
He explained that both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches were necessary to combat evolving threats.
Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Dr Mohammed Bulama, echoed the call for intensified military efforts.
“In recent times, however, the news of insecurity within the nation’s internal security landscape has made headlines in most of our print and electronic media outlets, especially the social media,” he said.
He added, “The armed forces has done and is still doing a lot to stem the rising insecurity across the country, despite its limited resources.”