Representative Aminu Sani Jaji (APC-Zamfara) has expressed serious concerns regarding the safety of students in schools across certain parts of Northern Nigeria, where the persistent threat of kidnappings and the activities of bandits loom large.
Jaji, who serves as the representative for Kaura-Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency, conveyed his apprehensions while addressing the press in Abuja, following the recent abductions of students at the Federal University Gusau and another incident in Katsina.
He emphasized that the criminal activities of bandits have instilled fear in many residents and are severely undermining the education system in Northern Nigeria.
“Efforts to address this issue, such as raising motions, discussing the rising fatalities in various constituencies, observing a minute of silence, and calling upon security agencies to take action, have thus far failed to yield solutions to this pressing problem.”
He stressed that it is increasingly evident that both Federal and State Governments must join forces and tackle the issue with sincerity in order to effectively combat the escalating insecurity.
Jaji emphasized that despite the unique security challenges faced by each state in Nigeria today, insecurity continues to be a major concern in the North.
He underscored the need for a nationwide awareness campaign to shed light on the security challenges faced in Zamfara State and the broader North-West region, emphasizing that security matters should not be reduced to political maneuvering.
Jaji also highlighted the recent dispute between the Zamfara State government and the Federal government regarding dialogue with bandits, which he believes has only exacerbated the situation.
“The Minister of Defense asserted that community-led dialogues with the bandits do not involve federal government intervention, yet the presence of military personnel during such dialogues raises questions.
“These concerns intensify as incidents like the kidnapping of Federal University Gusau students follow purported dialogues, prompting public figures to call for a comprehensive approach to decisively address the security crisis.”
He concluded by stating, “Insecurity in the North-West is a matter of great concern, as the lives and properties of the people should not be subject to political maneuvering.”
