Coalition asks Buhari to declare state of emergency over Zamfara killings

ACOALITION of Northern Groups (CNG) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State. This followed what it called the failure of security operatives and the state government to curtail the ongoing killings in the state.

This was contained in a statement by the group’s spokesperson, Abdul-azeez Suleiman, in Kaduna yesterday.

He lamented that Governor Abdul-azeez Yari, has been unable to protect the lives and property of the residents.

According to the coalition, it was “moved by a deep pity for the seemingly unending trauma and agony, which the citizens of Zamfara have been subjected to.

It stressed its commitment to defending the people of the North, especially in tackling the mounting security challenges.

He said: “We are all the more perplexed that the determined senseless killings of innocent citizens have been needlessly allowed to get out of hand, as rightly remarked by the Inspector-general of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

“We are worried, like all well-meaning Nigerians, about the persistence of unrest and banditry in the state. We condemn the dimension that they had taken in recent time, with the Zurmi massacre of about 50 people, and the latest daring attempts on some communities in Talata Mafara.

“We reiterate our calls for the immediate imposition of a state of emergency in the state. Replacing all existing political structure with a military administration is necessary to restore normalcy in the state.”

The group declared that Zamfara and its people desperately need peace to achieve development. Suleiman added that only a peaceful society could attain development in the troubled area, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).

The group urged the enthronement of the rule of law, which, it noted is the cannon of democratic and