Just In: Tinubu Told To Immediately Declare State of Emergency In Top Northern State
- HRWA called on President Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara over the controversial release of more than 500 inmates
- The group accused Governor Lawal of worsening insecurity by allegedly pardoning hardened bandits and enabling a “religious amnesty” scheme
- HRWA warned that the releases plunged residents into fear and urged the President to sanction the governor and launch a federal investigation
The Human Rights Watchdog in Africa (HRWA) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately declare a state of emergency in Zamfara state.
Specifically, the group accused Governor Dauda Lawal of worsening insecurity through political recklessness and a disregard for public safety.
Source: Twitter
The organisation made the call in a statement cited by Legit.ng on Saturday, November 29.
This follows reports that more than 500 inmates convicted of banditry-related offences had been released from the Gusau Correctional Facility under questionable circumstances.
Zamfara: Shocking inmate releases raise alarm
Sources inside the correctional facility disclosed that 69 of the freed inmates were hardened bandits who allegedly received a covert state pardon approved by Governor Lawal as far back as September 2025.
Insiders also revealed that the former inmates were channelled through the Zamfara state Zakat and Endowment Board under what officials described as a “religious amnesty” scheme intended to support their reintegration.
Compounding public concern, eight suspects remanded since January 2022 for grave crimes, including criminal conspiracy, culpable homiclde, dealing in human parts, and cannibalism, were reportedly among the beneficiaries.
According to HRWA, the releases have “plunged thousands of Zamfara residents into a serious circle of confusion and fear,” with many communities now fearing a resurgence of violence.
HRWA accuses governor of political gamesmanship
HRWA Executive Director, Samson Adamu, condemned what he described as the governor’s cavalier handling of the state’s worsening security crisis.
“This is sacrilegious and totally against humanity. Governor Lawal has never truly taken the insecurity plaguing Zamfara seriously, always playing politics while our people bleed," Adamu said.
He added that the situation in Zamfara had “deteriorated catastrophically” since Governor Lawal took office.
“Villages have been razed, families torn apart, and now this betrayal of unleashing convicted killers back onto our streets under the guise of amnesty,” he stated.
Source: Facebook
Adamu also criticised the governor’s previous claims that he could end banditry within two months.
“It is a mockery of justice and a death sentence for innocent civilians. How can a leader who claims to know the hideouts of every bandit kingpin, down to their phone locations, then pardon the very people terrorising his state?" he said.
He added:
“This isn’t governance; it’s complicity. Lawal’s actions have emboldened criminals, eroded trust in public institutions, and turned Zamfara into a bandit haven.”
Group urges presidential intervention
HRWA called on President Tinubu to invoke constitutional emergency powers to suspend the governor, overhaul the state’s security architecture, and launch a federal investigation into the controversial pardons.
“Sanction him hard. Strip away his authority before more blood is spilled. HRWA stands with the voiceless victims of Zamfara; we will not rest until accountability prevails," Adamu urged.
Zamfara: Police rescue 25 children, women
Previously, Legit.ng reported that the Police Command in Zamfara state has said it has rescued 25 abducted persons, who were mainly women and children. They were kidnapped by some bandits in the Kuraje community in Zamfara.
DSP Yazid Abubakar, the police public relations officer, confirmed the development in a statement in Gusau, the state capital, on Saturday, November 22. According to Abubakar, the bandits attacked the Kuraje village in the Damba area of the Gusau local government area of the state.
Source: Legit.ng
