By Deborah Nnamdi
Aminu Jaji, a member of the House of Representatives, has expressed deep concern over the escalating security crisis in Zamfara State. He described the situation as so dire that insurgents have reportedly resorted to feeding kidnapped infants to their dogs.
Jaji, who represents Kaura-Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency under the All Progressives Congress, made these remarks on Wednesday while speaking to journalists at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
He rejected suggestions to involve foreign mercenaries in the fight against insecurity, arguing instead that Nigeria’s military is capable of restoring peace if adequately equipped and motivated. He also opposed calls for the declaration of a state of emergency in Zamfara.
Narrating his people’s ordeal, the lawmaker said, “A pregnant woman was abducted. She gave birth to a set of twins in captivity. Then, the leader of the bandits took the twins and threw them at his dog. The dogs ate them up, one after the other.
“This is something that we need to rise to the occasion. We need to speak to ourselves. Something needs to be done.”
He advocated the use of technology in the fight against insecurity, ruling out the mercenary option, saying, “I don’t believe that in Nigeria, we need mercenaries to prosecute the war against terrorists.
“Our gallant soldiers can secure the country. But the only thing that we need to do as a country is to step up a little bit and be more digitalized in the way we operate.
“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 are satisfactory.
“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. If they are being motivated in terms of their welfare and so many other things, they can step up to fight these people.”
In an emotionally laden voice, Jaji struggled to paint a gory picture of the tragedy daily unleashed on hapless people by armed insurgents.
“In my constituency alone, over 200 people have been kidnapped by bandits. Two weeks ago, 60 people were abducted in Banga. 10 of them were later killed because the community could not raise the N30m ransom demanded by the abductors.
“As we were grieving, another 25 were taken from Gabake. Just yesterday, fresh attacks occurred in Kungurki,” he said.
He observed that a significant portion of his constituency has fallen under the control of bandits, who are not only killing and injuring innocent people but also asserting themselves as the de facto rulers over the local population.
He urged a comprehensive reform of the nation’s security framework, voicing concern that individuals within President Bola Tinubu’s inner circle might be withholding the true extent of the worsening situation in the North-West region.
