1 week Ago By Joy Anigbogu
LAGOS – The Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State due to the alarming level of violence, lawlessness, and breakdown of order. In a press statement signed by National Coordinator Israel Uwejeyan, NDYC cited the recent kidnappings, killings, and general insecurity in the state, noting that the situation has reached a tipping point. The organisation drew parallels with the Federal Government’s swift declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, arguing that similar urgency should be applied to Zamfara.
NDYC stressed that the crisis in Zamfara is existential, with entire communities under siege and citizens living in daily fear for their lives. The group pointed out the resignation of former Inspector General of Police MD Abubakar from the state’s Security Trust Fund Board, citing the governor’s ineffective handling of security. The organisation also highlighted the political crisis in Zamfara, with the state House of Assembly split and lawmakers at loggerheads.
NDYC argued that if a state of emergency was justified in Rivers State due to political tensions, then Zamfara’s situation, which combines both political and security collapse, warrants similar intervention. NDYC urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Security Council to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State without delay, emphasizing the need for fairness and consistency in governance. The statement reads: “We urge the President and the National Security Council to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State without further delay.
The same urgency, the same executive force, and the same justification used in Rivers State must be applied here. Anything short of that will be seen as a clear message that some regions are above the law while others are governed by force. NDYC stands with all Nigerians affected by insecurity, whether in the North, South, East, or West.
But we demand fairness. The Niger Delta cannot and will not accept selective federal intervention.”.
