A human rights coalition has urged President Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara due to a total governance breakdown and alleged complicity in criminal mining
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Northern Citizens Alliance for Justice (NCAJ) has urgently called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State, citing a complete breakdown of governance, escalating insecurity, and the alleged involvement of the state government in illicit mining activities.
Also read: UDC demands state of emergency in Zamfara over spiralling insecurity
In a statement issued in Kaduna on Friday, the NCAJ’s president, Mallam Kabiru Sani Bako, asserted that meaningful intervention in the troubled state necessitates the removal of power from political figures purportedly profiting from the ongoing crisis.
“What we are witnessing in Zamfara State is not governance. What we are witnessing is organised abandonment of duty by those elected to serve,” Bako stated emphatically.
He further elaborated, “The state has no functional House of Assembly, no political will to stop the violence, and a growing body of allegations tying officials to illegal mining. This is no longer politics — this is betrayal of the people.”
The human rights coalition described the deteriorating security situation in Zamfara as “a slow-burning war that the country is ignoring at its own peril.”
Bako revealed the distressing reality faced by many Zamfara residents, who are now compelled to pay levies to bandits for the basic right to farm their land or travel within the state, while state actors, he alleged, continue to engage in political maneuvering.
“In towns like Zurmi, Shinkafi, Anka and Bukkuyum, people are no longer safe to attend school, visit markets or sleep with both eyes closed. Women are being abducted, children recruited, and entire communities taxed by non-state actors. And what is the government doing? Trading blame and watching,” he lamented.
The NCAJ highlighted the absence of a properly constituted state assembly as further evidence of the collapse of democratic structures within Zamfara.
“As we speak, Zamfara has no legally recognised House of Assembly. Ten lawmakers were suspended for speaking out against the security situation in the state.
This means the state is being run without the checks and balances that a democracy demands. It is a dictatorship of silence — and the victims are poor citizens who deserve better,” Bako added.
The coalition also levelled serious accusations against the state government, alleging that it is shielding illegal miners.
They claim to possess credible evidence suggesting that proceeds from unregulated mining operations are being used by criminal gangs to procure arms.
“The same hands that should be protecting Zamfara are profiting from its destruction,” Bako asserted.
He concluded with a direct appeal to the President: “The time has come for President Tinubu to step in — not with rhetoric, but with constitutional force.
We are calling for the declaration of a state of emergency and the appointment of a non-partisan administrator to take over the reins and rebuild institutions.”
“If this is not done now, we risk allowing Zamfara to become a permanent haven for terror cells. The country cannot afford to look away. Lives are being lost daily. And governance has already left the room.”
Also read: Coalition of Nigerian’s condemns Tinubu’s state of emergency declaration in Rivers State
The Northern Citizens Alliance for Justice announced its intention to submit a detailed dossier to the National Assembly and the National Security Adviser in the coming days to substantiate their demand for the declaration of a state of emergency.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
