The United Democratic Coalition (UDC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to swiftly declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State due to escalating insecurity.
The coalition's call, made in a statement on Friday by its president Abdulrahman Danladi, seeks immediate intervention to prevent further deterioration of the state's security situation.
The UDC expressed concern that the violence in Zamfara could spiral out of control, potentially destabilizing the state's democratic order.
Danladi emphasized that the situation has become increasingly dire, with armed groups operating freely and citizens living in constant fear of bandit attacks.
He also criticized the state government for neglecting its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and uphold democratic values.
“The situation in Zamfara has gone from troubling to terrifying. Armed groups are rampant, and citizens are defenseless,”; Danladi said, highlighting the recent suspension of 10 lawmakers from the Zamfara State House of Assembly for raising alarms over the state's insecurity and illegal mining activities. He denounced the suspension as a form of “executive tyranny” designed to silence voices critical of the administration.
Danladi drew comparisons to the political crisis in Rivers State, where a split in the state assembly left only four lawmakers in office, prompting discussions of a potential federal intervention.
He questioned why Zamfara, with ten suspended lawmakers and increasing violence, had not garnered similar national attention.
“The same standard that applied in Rivers should be applied to Zamfara,”; Danladi argued. “Democracy is being undermined in Zamfara, and the federal government must act to restore order.”
The UDC has called for a six-month state of emergency in the state, which would allow security forces to regain control, bring peace, and reinstate constitutional governance.
They also demanded the immediate reinstatement of the suspended lawmakers and an investigation into alleged executive interference with the legislature.
Zamfara, long plagued by armed banditry, has seen thousands displaced and many lives lost in the past year.
The UDC stresses that urgent leadership is needed to end the suffering of the state's citizens, who are currently under siege by both criminals and government inaction.
