Amid growing concerns over the deteriorating security situation in Zamfara State, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately declare a state of emergency in the state. The forum cited the alarming rise in banditry, kidnapping, and general lawlessness, insisting that the situation has spiraled beyond the control of the state government.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Kaduna and signed by the AYCF National President, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, the group described the situation in Zamfara as both “tragic and unacceptable.” According to the forum, the failure of political leadership to protect lives and property has turned Zamfara into what it called a “theatre of bloodshed,” where citizens live in constant fear of attacks.
“Zamfara has become a failed state within a state, where non-state actors now dictate the pace of life. The government of the day has shown gross incapacity to confront the security threats or provide relief to the people,” Shettima said.
The group emphasized that federal intervention through a state of emergency was no longer optional but a matter of urgent national security. It also accused political actors in the state of prioritizing personal power tussles over the well-being of citizens.
Recent weeks have seen an uptick in violent attacks across rural parts of Zamfara, with reports of mass abductions, killings, and the burning of villages. Humanitarian conditions have worsened significantly, with many residents fleeing their homes and living in makeshift camps or open fields, exposed to the elements.
The AYCF maintained that only a bold step by the presidency could restore order and reestablish public confidence. “We cannot continue to count the dead and bury our loved ones while politicians trade blame. The time to act is now,” Shettima warned.
The group further urged northern elders, traditional rulers, and civil society organisations to rally behind the call for a state of emergency as a measure to salvage what remains of public trust and territorial integrity in Zamfara.
As the nation awaits an official response from the presidency, the AYCF’s appeal adds fresh momentum to growing calls for extraordinary measures to confront the persistent security crisis threatening the peace and unity of the North-West region.
