Growing anxiety over rural violence in northern Nigeria has led a Zamfara-based civic coalition, the Concerned Citizens of Zamfara, to issue a detailed petition urging the Federal Government to probe reports that some prominent figures may be undermining the nation’s fight against banditry.
In a statement signed by Dr. Yazidu Muhammad Namoriki, the group applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s security initiatives, citing recent military offensives and intelligence-driven raids across the North-West. “These gains must be consolidated,” the statement read, “and no one, regardless of office or status, should be allowed to compromise national security.”
The petition referenced claims, not yet verified by security agencies that Senator Shehu Umar Buba, chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security, may have engaged in conduct capable of emboldening criminal gangs. Among the issues highlighted were alleged assistance to wounded suspects and involvement in local disputes said to have escalated violence.
The group asked that investigators “examine every shred of evidence and, where wrongdoing is established, pursue prosecution and recovery of assets derived from crime.”
Banditry has ravaged large parts of Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Bauchi States for more than a decade. Armed groups, often riding motorcycles, target farming communities, abduct travellers, and extort ransoms, forcing thousands from their homes. The Federal Government has repeatedly pledged to end the crisis, but vast terrain and porous borders complicate the task.
“When local organisations demand accountability, it pressures the system to investigate thoroughly. But it’s equally important that accusations are evidence-based and tested in court.”
As of publication, Senator Buba and his aides had not responded to several calls and emails seeking comment on the petition’s claims. Law-enforcement bodies contacted by this magazine said no official findings against the senator have been released.
Legal experts caution that Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees every individual the presumption of innocence. “Investigations must be conducted professionally, and the media should emphasise that allegations remain allegations until proved,” noted barrister Halima Sule.
The Concerned Citizens of Zamfara concluded their appeal by urging the administration to “act decisively against any saboteurs” while continuing programs that support victims of attacks and strengthen rural policing. They pledged to collaborate with authorities in gathering lawful intelligence to curb the violence.