Massacre In The North: ADC Demands State Of Emergency After 140 Deaths In Two Months

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised alarm over the rising wave of violence in Nigeria’s North-West, claiming that more than 140 people have been killed in Katsina and Zamfara States in the past two months.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday, the party urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately declare a state of emergency in the affected states, similar to the drastic action he took earlier in March 2025 in Rivers State.

According to Bolaji Abdullahi, the interim spokesperson of the ADC, the scale of killings in Katsina and Zamfara reflects “a total collapse of the national security architecture” and requires urgent intervention.

‘Over 140 Nigerians Murdered’

The ADC accused federal authorities of complacency, insisting that the violence in these states has reached intolerable levels.

“Taken together, over 140 Nigerians have been murdered in just two months in Katsina and Zamfara alone,” Abdullahi stated. “This level of carnage cannot be normalized. It requires decisive action from the Commander-in-Chief.”

Barely four days ago, at least 50 worshippers were killed in a brutal attack on a mosque in Katsina State, shocking communities across the North. In a separate incident, heavily armed bandits in Zamfara ambushed police operatives, killing two officers in cold blood.

Tinubu’s Precedent in Rivers State

The ADC reminded Nigerians that in March 2025, President Tinubu declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State following political and security crises there. That declaration also led to the suspension of all elected officials, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy.

Party officials questioned why similar urgency has not been applied to northern states where hundreds of lives have been lost to unrelenting attacks.

“If a political crisis in Rivers was deemed severe enough to warrant emergency powers, surely the mass killings in Katsina and Zamfara should not be treated with any less seriousness,” Abdullahi argued.

A Region Under Siege

For more than a decade, states in Nigeria’s North-West have been plagued by armed banditry, kidnappings, and communal clashes. Criminal gangs, often operating from forest hideouts, launch raids on villages, abduct travelers for ransom, and engage in deadly confrontations with security forces.

Katsina, the home state of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has been one of the worst-hit areas. Human rights organizations report that entire communities have been displaced, with thousands of families forced to abandon their farmlands due to fear of attack.

In Zamfara, violent confrontations between security forces and armed groups have intensified. Residents say the failure of intelligence coordination and overstretched security personnel have left many rural areas undefended.

Global Concern Over Nigeria’s Security

Nigeria’s worsening insecurity has attracted global attention. International human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have repeatedly called on the government to do more to protect civilians.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recently noted that persistent insecurity in northern Nigeria has worsened humanitarian conditions, limiting access to food and health services.

Similarly, the U.S. State Department and the European Union have highlighted the threat of instability spreading across the region, given Nigeria’s strategic importance in West Africa.

Political Implications

Analysts warn that the rising insecurity could have serious political consequences for the Tinubu administration. The government has promised to prioritize security, but critics say progress has been slow.

Dr. Kemi Adebayo, a political analyst at the University of Lagos, said the ADC’s call reflects growing frustration.

“The opposition is seizing on public anger. Nigerians are asking: if the government could suspend a governor in Rivers over a political crisis, why not act with equal determination when citizens are being slaughtered in Katsina and Zamfara?” she noted.

Calls for Comprehensive Security Reform

Security experts argue that declaring a state of emergency alone may not be sufficient. They recommend a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s security framework, better funding for the armed forces, and stronger cooperation between federal and local authorities.

Former army officer and defense consultant, Col. Hassan Lawal (rtd), stressed that “banditry thrives because of weak intelligence sharing, corruption in procurement, and lack of community engagement. Without fixing these systemic flaws, an emergency declaration will only be symbolic.”

Human Cost of Inaction

Beyond the political debates, the human cost continues to mount. Survivors recount harrowing experiences of night raids, burned homes, and mass abductions. In many communities, schools remain shut, health facilities abandoned, and economic activities crippled.

A farmer in Zamfara told local reporters: “We cannot go to our farms. If you step out beyond the village, you risk being kidnapped or killed. We are trapped.”

With food production disrupted, economists warn of worsening food insecurity and inflation, deepening Nigeria’s already fragile economic situation.

What Next for Tinubu?

As pressure mounts, Nigerians await the government’s response. Will Tinubu extend his tough emergency measures from Rivers to the violence-ridden North-West? Or will the federal government opt for alternative security strategies?

For now, the killings continue, fueling anger among ordinary citizens and prompting louder calls for accountability.