Zamfara lawmaker lamented the deteriorating security conditions in the state, saying President Tinubu might not be receiving accurate briefings on the situation from his close advisers
A member of the House of Representatives from Zamfara State, Rep. Aminu Sani Jaji, has raised the alarm over the escalating insecurity plaguing his state, calling for urgent federal intervention.
Jaji, who represents Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency, lamented that armed bandits have effectively seized control of parts of his constituency, where they operate with impunity—killing residents and asserting authority over local communities.
Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday, the lawmaker decried the deteriorating security conditions in Zamfara and the wider north-west, insisting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may not be receiving accurate briefings on the situation from his close advisers.
“There is a need for a total overhaul of our security architecture. The reality on the ground is different from what some people close to the president may be telling him,” he said.
Jaji strongly rejected calls for the declaration of emergency rule in Zamfara, arguing that such a move would be misplaced when more than 20 states across the federation are battling security crises of varying degrees.
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He emphasized the importance of synergy among key stakeholders, community leaders, security agencies, and government at all levels to effectively tackle the menace.
While reflecting on the federal government’s past consideration of foreign mercenaries during the boko haram insurgency in the North-East, Rep. Jaji reiterated his opposition to outsourcing national security operations.
“I don’t believe that in Nigeria we need mercenaries to prosecute the war against terrorists. Our gallant soldiers have the capacity to secure the country. But the only thing that we need to do as a country is to step up a little bit, to be more digitalized in the way we operate,” he said.
“Honestly, I don’t subscribe to the idea of hiring mercenaries. We must make sure the resources given to our security agents by the federal government is substantially okay. But let’s ensure the monitoring and the efficacy of how they discharge their duty and then how they can continue to be supported in terms of their welfare.
“Because if they are being motivated by welfare and so many other things, anybody can feel so strong and you can take any step to fight these people,” Jaji added.
The former Chairman of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence in the 8th Assembly stressed that Nigeria’s security forces have sufficient manpower, but must adopt new strategies, particularly in intelligence gathering and proactive response.
He also gave a harrowing account of the scale of displacement in his constituency, stating that hundreds of residents have fled their homes due to the relentless attacks by bandits. He called on both the state and federal governments to scale up efforts in providing relief materials to displaced persons and restoring peace to affected communities.
Jaji urged authorities to extend their intervention beyond Zamfara, warning that the entire northern region remains under serious threat if decisive and coordinated action is not taken.
