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A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji, has alleged that bandits operating in Zamfara State fed newborn twins to dogs after their mother gave birth in captivity. The lawmaker made the claim on Wednesday during a press briefing at the National Assembly in Abuja, where he decried the increasing brutality of attacks in the state.
Jaji, who represents Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency, said over 200 people from his constituency have been kidnapped in a series of relentless attacks by armed groups in recent weeks.
According to him, the mother of the twins was abducted while pregnant. After delivering the babies in captivity, the bandits allegedly threw the infants to dogs.
“That is where we are now. That is the level of inhumanity we are facing,” Jaji said.
He also recounted another tragic incident involving a young epileptic boy who was killed during an attack after suffering a seizure.
“The bandit demanded the boy be brought to him to be executed. The father, out of desperation, begged his son to surrender to save the rest of the family. The boy agreed and was shot dead,” he said.
The lawmaker warned that the frequency and brutality of attacks in Zamfara suggest a breakdown of governance in large parts of the state. He urged the federal government to intensify efforts to restore peace and security to the region.
Jaji noted that during the 2023 general elections, he was a member of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign team in the Northwest and had assured constituents that security would be prioritised.
“Now, we are failing those who believed in us. Our people can’t access their farms. Their economy has collapsed. We have many internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are not even recognized by the federal or state governments,” he said.
Providing further details, Jaji said:
“In my constituency alone, over 200 people have been kidnapped by bandits. Two weeks ago, 60 people were abducted in Banga. Ten of them were later killed because the community could not raise the N30 million ransom demanded by the abductors. As we were grieving, another 25 were taken from Gabake. Just yesterday, fresh attacks occurred in Kungurki.”
Responding to a question on whether a state of emergency should be declared in Zamfara, the lawmaker rejected the suggestion, saying the problem of insecurity goes beyond the state.
“If you declare a state of emergency in Zamfara, you might as well declare it in more than 20 other states. Insecurity is a national crisis, not a regional one,” he said.
Jaji called for urgent action from the federal government to address what he described as a national humanitarian crisis.
“This is no longer a political matter. It is a humanitarian disaster. If we fail to act now, the entire country will be consumed,” he warned.
He added that despite efforts to engage relevant security stakeholders, including the Minister of Defence, little progress has been made.
“Zamfara, my state, used to be the most peaceful in Nigeria. Today, we are among the most ravaged. The constitution guarantees the protection of life and property, but that promise is not being kept.”
On the issue of citizens arming themselves for self-defence, Jaji said any such decision must comply with the law.
“We are legislators, not vigilantes. We cannot encourage people to take up arms illegally. But the truth is, the people feel abandoned,” he said.
