Aminu Jaji, a member of the House of Representatives, has raised the alarm over the escalating insecurity in Zamfara State, recounting horrific events allegedly carried out by insurgents in the region.
Speaking at the National Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday, Jaji, who represents Kaura-Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency under the All Progressives Congress (APC), condemned the deteriorating security landscape, highlighting the brutality of criminal gangs operating with impunity.
In a deeply emotional address, the lawmaker recalled a particularly disturbing incident involving a woman who gave birth while in captivity.
“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,” he said.
Jaji stressed the urgency of confronting the crisis head-on and called for collective national action.
“This is something that we need to rise to the occasion. We need to speak to ourselves. Something needs to be done.”
The lawmaker voiced strong opposition to the idea of contracting foreign fighters to tackle insecurity, arguing instead for modernized military strategies and better support for Nigerian troops.
“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 and be more digitalised 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.”
He painted a grim picture of life in his constituency, where banditry has upended daily existence and left communities at the mercy of armed groups.
“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.”
According to Jaji, the attackers have effectively seized control of several areas, leaving residents vulnerable and law enforcement overstretched. He urged President Bola Tinubu to seek firsthand information about the worsening conditions in the North-West, fearing that aides may be shielding him from the full extent of the crisis
