The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently declare a state of emergency in Katsina and Zamfara States following series of mass killings that have left more than 140 people dead in the last two months.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, on Sunday, the party said the recent massacre in Malumfashi, Katsina State where gunmen killed 30 worshippers in a mosque and burned 20 villagers alive was a proof of the collapse of Nigeria’s national security architecture.
“This evil act epitomizes the horrors that Nigerians have been forced to endure under this administration. It is also a damning proof of the total collapse of our national security architecture which has prompted even the nation’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to ask citizens to learn how to defend themselves.,” the statement read.
The ADC accused President Tinubu of neglecting urgent security challenges while traveling abroad.
“Instead of confronting these urgent national tragedies with the seriousness they demand, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu continues to jet-set across the world, chasing photo-ops, while his people are dying in dozens at home,” the statement read in part.
The party also expressed dismay that the President had not personally addressed the nation or reached out to victims’ families.
“It is equally appalling to note that President Tinubu has not made a direct statement of condolence to families of victims or given the assurance of safety to those still alive. This negligence would have been unthinkable in those countries that the President loves to visit,” the statement added.
“We therefore call for an immediate declaration of a state of emergency in Katsina and Zamfara States until the government is able to stem the tide of bloodshed in those places and restore some order.”
The party further urged the federal government to completely review the nation’s defence system, pointing to recent remarks by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) asking citizens to acquire self-defence skills.
“That is perhaps the most honest indicator yet that there is a need to rethink the entire internal defence system,” it said.
The party also criticised PDP governors for holding a political meeting in Zamfara only days after dozens of villagers were killed there, calling it insensitive and out of place.
“Instead of the governors to rally around their beleaguered colleague to help stop the orgy of killings, they chose to stage a political rally at the scene of mass murder, even if it meant trampling on the memory of the victims,” Abdullahi stated.
According to the party, both APC and PDP have failed Nigerians.
“This act alone further underlines an important fact: neither the ruling APC nor the incurably afflicted PDP care about the people and their suffering. They only care about power and politics.”
Declare state of emergency in Katsina, Zamfara over mass killings – ADC tells Tinubu
