(Read the full text of the Press Conference)
TEXT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY ZAMFARA CIRCLE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE ON THE INCREASED DETERIORATION OF SECURITY IN ZAMFARA
Assalamu Alaikum,
Introduction
Gentlemen of the press, my name is Dr. Aminu Lawal, I am the Chairman of Zamfara Circle Community Initiative, and I welcome you to the World Press Conference on the Security Situation of Zamfara.
We would like to begin by condemning in the strongest terms the wanton destruction of lives and property in some parts of Zamfara State, particularly the recent massacre of 35 innocent lives in Banga ward of Kauran Namoda Local Government Area. About 53 people were kidnapped, including women and children, who were held in captivity for over four months while raising the sum of fifty million naira as ransom, which was collectively raised by the whole community, only for the bandits to release 18, having murdered 35 in cold blood, due to the delay in paying the ransom. The released were severely malnourished and required immediate medical attention, but no support came their way. We send our sincere condolences to the victims’ families. We are also sending our condolences to the people of Waramu in Anka Local government whose village was completely burnt down and who were turned to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) overnight and Chediya village in Tsafe Local government over the killings and abductions and destruction that took place recently. The common theme in all these attacks is that there is a very loud silence from the part of the government both state and federal.
A Disturbing Trend of Government Neglect
The attacks in Zamfara State have escalated alarmingly, with a notable increase in frequency and devastation. For example, Fegin Mahe village in Gusau Local government was completely ransacked with over 5000 people displaced. Also, 11 communities in Bukkuyum Local Government with over 50,000 people were displaced. In a case of an emerging trend in Zurmi Local government, a levy to be paid in gold was imposed on 4 communities by the bandits. Unfortunately, despite all these, the Federal Government’s response has been grossly inadequate, characterized by a lack of genuine commitment and consistent effort to address this crisis. This inaction has effectively abandoned the people of Zamfara State to suffer at the hands of these atrocities.
Stark Contrast in Government Response
The disparity in the government’s response to similar crises in other states is striking. While states like Benue, Plateau, and Borno have received prompt attention and support from the presidency, Zamfara State has been conspicuously ignored. The absence of meaningful support, condemnation, and recognition from the Federal Government underscores the vulnerability of Zamfara’s citizens. It raises serious questions about the government’s priorities and commitment to protecting its citizens.
Unacceptable Silence
This lack of attention and action has severe consequences. It emboldens the perpetrators of these atrocities, while leaving the people of Zamfara State feeling abandoned, forgotten, and without recourse. The government’s silence is not just a passive oversight; it is an active contributor to the ongoing suffering and insecurity in Zamfara State. It is imperative that the Federal Government takes immediate and decisive action to address this crisis and ensure the safety and security of its citizens.
The Circle has also observed the swift response by the Presidency to the recent flooding in Adamawa and the boat mishap in Niger State, which occurred on the same day as the Banga incident. Once again, Zamfara was overlooked, almost as if we are not part of Nigeria.
The Circle wants to state unequivocally that President Bola Tinubu, by his action or inaction, has abandoned the good people of Zamfara state despite the contribution the state gave him during the 2023 general elections as one of the only 2 states won by his party in the North-western region with over 298,000 votes.
The people of Zamfara are beginning to question whether they have become third-class citizens in their own country. It seems the government has jettisoned one of its most fundamental responsibilities – the protection of the lives and property of its citizens.
As things stand, there are no deployed security personnel in over 80% of the Zamfara hinterland were close to 5 million people reside. This development has left the majority of the state’s populace at the mercy of the bandits leading to various communities to either dialogue with the bandits or resolve to defend themselves. Those who chose to dialogue are often subjected to various forms of inhuman treatments by these bandits including rape and forced labour.
From January 2024 to July 2025, according to the data compiled by the Zamfara Circle Security Appraisal Committee (ZC-SAC), there are about 455 villages and communities that were attacked by armed bandits. Our data also indicated that there are about 3,216 people including farmers that were kidnapped with ransom being paid running into hundreds of millions of naira while over 230 people were killed within this period by armed groups. Again, no support and no condolence from the federal government.
At this juncture, the Circle would like to acknowledge and appreciate our security forces (the military, police, DSS, CPG, and the vigilante) for the sacrifices they have consistently been making to make Zamfara State safe despite working under difficult conditions.
Despite their commendable efforts, the problem persisted due to the Federal Government’s lack of genuine commitment to ending this menace. What we continue to see is a haphazard, uncoordinated approach that has failed to bring lasting peace to our communities. This piecemeal handling of insecurity has allowed criminality to persist, with devastating consequences for our people.
This indifference from the Federal government may have stemmed from Governor Dauda’s claim of about 70% success in resolving the menace in one of his many media engagements. Realities on ground have shown that the governor has exaggerated the figure.
Our Demands
The Zamfara Circle Community Initiative calls upon President Bola Tinubu to take immediate and decisive action to address the security crisis in Zamfara State. We demand that he:
- Show genuine commitment:
Accord Zamfara State the same level of attention and support that was extended to Benue and Plateau states, demonstrating a genuine commitment to solving the insecurity in Zamfara. - Launch a special operation:
Direct his top military chiefs to launch a special operation with a clear mandate to eradicate the menace of banditry in Zamfara State as soon as possible. - Develop a comprehensive security strategy:
Ensure urgent and genuine collaborative efforts across the north-western states to develop a comprehensive security strategy that brings together all stakeholders, including government at all levels, civil society, the private sector, traditional rulers, religious leaders, victims of violence, and affected communities, to confront and end this menace in the shortest possible time. - Deploy additional security personnel:
Direct the deployment of additional security personnel to Zamfara State to effectively man the extensive ungoverned spaces within the state landscape, where bandits currently exert more control than the government. - Make arrangements for Internally Displaced Persons:
Direct the Ministry for Humanitarian Services and the National Emergency Management Agency to support the internally displaced persons.
By taking these concrete steps, President Tinubu can demonstrate his commitment to the safety and security of the people of Zamfara State and help bring an end to the suffering and insecurity that has plagued the state for far too long.
A Cry to the AU, ECOWAS, EU and the UN
The Circle calls upon the African Union (AU), the ECOWAS, the EU and the United Nations (UN) to rise to the demands of their moral and legal responsibilities as global and regional leaders. For more than a decade and a half, you have watched as Zamfara has sunk deeper and deeper into the abyss of insecurity — from isolated clashes to mass killings, then to the burning of villages, to cattle rustling, and now to rampant kidnappings and the payment of ransoms. Yet no one has come to rescue the people of Zamfara. This once peaceful state, known for its harmony and economic strength in farming, has been turned into the tragic headquarters of killing and poverty. Today, most of our farmlands are inaccessible, pushing over 90 percent of Zamfara citizens into extreme poverty, trauma, and hopelessness. The Circle, therefore, asks — when will you live up to your responsibility? When will you come to the aid of, and rescue, the people of Zamfara from this unending menace of insecurity, killings, and human suffering?
Conclusion
The Circle believes that the state government is not doing enough to bridge the gap between the state and the federal government as well as other relevant stakeholders to create a good working synergy for the benefit of the good people of Zamfara state.
Zamfara state is the epicentre of the banditry menace, and it cannot be treated in isolation. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and Zamfara is the weakest link in Nigeria in terms of banditry. It is, therefore, necessary for the government to address the banditry issue in Zamfara.
This Press Conference is the first step in Zamfara Circle’s efforts to organise a security summit and bring together various stakeholders to discuss the current situation and chart a sustainable way forward for the state and its people.
Thank you,
Dr Aminu Lawal
Chairman,
30/07/2025
