Bandits now feed our babies to their dogs as my community witnesses over 200 attacks– Aminu Jaji, Zamfara house of representatives member
A member of the House of Representatives from Zamfara State, Rep Aminu Jaji has decried the worsening security situation in his constituency, painting a harrowing picture of bandit attacks, mass kidnappings, and general lawlessness that have left communities devastated and residents displaced.
Briefing journalists at the National Assembly, the lawmaker, who previously chaired the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, said over 200 attacks have been recorded in communities across Kaura Namoda Local Government Area alone, including Dayo, Banga, Gabaki, Korea, and Madura, reports Vanguard.
“Just two days ago, 60 people were abducted in Banga. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of 30 million naira. Out of those abducted, 10 were killed, and the fate of the remaining 50 hangs in the balance,” he said.
The lawmaker lamented that while leaders often make lofty promises, little is done in practice. “We gave assurances that if our party came to power, insecurity would become history. Unfortunately, the reality today is different,” he said, adding that many communities have been turned into ghost towns due to persistent attacks.
He described chilling incidents, including one where a pregnant woman gave birth in captivity and her newborn twins were reportedly thrown to dogs by a bandit leader, as well as another where a boy with epilepsy was executed for falling in the presence of a bandit.
“A pregnant woman was abducted. She gave birth to twins after getting back to twins while she was in captivity. Then the leader of the bandit took the twins. Then he throw it to his dog. The dog eat the twins one by one, where are we?
“This is something that we need to rise to the occasion. We need to speak to ourselves. I said earlier, whether it is micro or micro operation, so certainly something must be done.
“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, unrecognized by both the state and federal governments,” he said.
The lawmaker criticized the lack of federal attention, noting that despite engaging the Ministry of Defence and other security stakeholders, there has been no sign’ficant response or action on the ground.
Zamfara, once one of the most peaceful states in the country, has become a hotspot for criminal activity. “Despite the introduction of Sharia and peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians in the past, we are now ravaged by violence,” he said.
He stressed that the people of Zamfara deserve the same protection and support as any other region, especially considering the contributions made by the state to the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 elections.
“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.
The lawmaker called on the President and all relevant stakeholders to act urgently, warning that if insecurity in Zamfara is left unchecked, it could spread further and consume the entire nation.
“People cry to us for help. They come in tears. They are not moving because they know where to go, they are moving because they have no other choice,” he said.
He urged leaders across political and religious divides to come together for a holistic and unified response to the insecurity, stating, “We must rise above politics. We must respond as people of faith and conscience. This is a national emergency.
