By Francesca Hangeior

In a bid to address the lingering security issue in Zamfara State, a group called the Northern Citizens Alliance for Justice (NCAJ) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately declare a state of emergency.

The group cited the “total breakdown of governance, and the alleged complicity of the state government in criminal mining operations” as its reason for for the declaration of an emergency rule in the state.

In a statement released in Kaduna on Friday, the group’s president, Mallam Kabiru Sani Bako, said no serious intervention can occur in the state unless power is taken from political actors currently benefiting from the crisis.

“What we are witnessing in Zamfara State is not governance. What we are witnessing is organised abandonment of duty by those elected to serve,” Bako said.

“The state has no functional House of Assembly, no political will to stop the violence, and a growing body of allegations tying officials to illegal mining. This is no longer politics — this is betrayal of the people.”

The group described the security situation in Zamfara as “a slow-burning war that the country is ignoring at its own peril.”

According to Bako, residents in many parts of the state now pay levies to bandits to farm or travel while state actors continue to play politics.

“In towns like Zurmi, Shinkafi, Anka and Bukkuyum, people are no longer safe to attend school, visit markets or sleep with both eyes closed. Women are being abducted, children recruited, and entire communities taxed by non-state actors. And what is the government doing? Trading blame and watching,” he said.

The group noted that the lack of a properly constituted state assembly further reinforces the collapse of democracy.

“As we speak, Zamfara has no legally recognised House of Assembly. 10 lawmakers were suspended for speaking out against the security situation in the state. This means the state is being run without the checks and balances that a democracy demands. It is a dictatorship of silence — and the victims are poor citizens who deserve better,” Bako added.

The group also accused the state government of shielding illegal miners, saying credible evidence suggests that proceeds from unregulated mining operations are funding arms purchases by criminal gangs.

“The same hands that should be protecting Zamfara are profiting from its destruction,” Bako said.

“The time has come for President Tinubu to step in — not with rhetoric, but with constitutional force. We are calling for declaring a state of emergency and appointing a non-partisan administrator to take over the reins and rebuild institutions.

“If this is not done now, we risk allowing Zamfara to become a permanent haven for terror cells. The country cannot afford to look away. Lives are being lost daily. And governance has already left the room.”

The Northern Citizens Alliance for Justice said it will send a detailed dossier to the National Assembly and the National Security Adviser in the coming days to support its demand.

By Francesca Hangeior

Human rights activist and prominent Rivers State commentator, Ann-Kio Briggs, has criticised the ongoing actions of the Federal Government by appointing a sole administrator in Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, (retd.), accusing him of implementing a dangerous and unconstitutional agenda.

Briggs warned that the situation in Rivers State was becoming volatile due to the administrator’s continued defiance of court orders and his sweeping reconstitution of state and local government institutions.

“If we accept that Vice Admiral Ibas was called out of retirement and sent to Rivers State to keep the peace, then he is very far from doing that. In fact, what he’s doing is pouring petrol on a fire the president may have thought was simmering. He’s set it ablaze,” Briggs said.

Since President Bola Tinubu’s suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers State has been operating without commissioners or an active executive cabinet.

However, rather than serving as a neutral caretaker, Ibas has taken bold steps by removing elected local government officials, appointing caretaker administrators, and even constituting a new electoral commission to oversee local polls.

According to Briggs, these actions violate both the spirit and letter of the law.

“He’s not from Rivers State. How does he know who to appoint? On what basis is he removing civil servants and replacing them? That’s unconstitutional,” she said.

Briggs further alleged that the sole administrator is acting with open political bias and is effectively advancing the interests of a powerful political figure.

“The people being removed are not Wike’s people. The people he is bringing in are Wike’s people. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure that out. He’s playing a dangerous script,” she stated.

She also called on President Tinubu to re-evaluate the basis of the federal government’s intervention in Rivers State.

“There was no insecurity in Rivers State. The president has been grossly misinformed—through no fault of his own—but clearly misinformed by those with personal, political, economic, and power interests in Rivers State.”

Briggs urged that respected national figures with proven neutrality—like Bishop Matthew Kukah and General Abdulsalami Abubakar —be considered for any peacebuilding roles in Rivers.

“We would have more confidence if neutral individuals like them were involved. Frankly, we don’t want Ibas in that role.”

As the crisis deepened, the activist warned of the rising anger among Rivers’s people and the possibility of civil unrest.

“There is serious concern. I say this as a daughter of Rivers State. This kind of situation can explode,” she said.

*Affirms 24-hour medical services

By Francesca Hangeior

The Federal University Oye Ekiti has dismissed reports insinuating a student – Fejiro Sharon Oteri, who died on April 8 -was not attended to at the Health Centre because it was not operating at night as erroneous.

This as the institution sympathised with the parents and relations of the student.

The Chief Medical Director of FUOYE’s Directorate of Health Services, Dr Musibau Olawale, spoke in a statement dated April 10 made available in Ado Ekiti on Friday.

Olawale stated, “Oteri, a student of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, was rushed into the clinic by her colleagues, having reportedly collapsed during their academic activities. She was immediately attended to as an emergency by the doctor on duty, along with other health care workers, who made efforts to resuscitate her.

“The student was actually rushed in with nil respiratory movements/efforts, nil pulse, and nonreactive pupillary reflexes. However, adequate resuscitatory efforts were made, and upon significant progress, the patient was rushed in the university ambulance to one of the tertiary referral centers being used by the university.

“The patient was accompanied by medical personnel in the university ambulance around 11:40am. The Director of Health Services followed the matter, alongside some lecturers from the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, including the HOD, who were also witnesses to the medical efforts instituted.

“The loss was an unfortunate incident as we know the pains of losing a loved one, moreso, in her prime. We sincerely sympathize with the family and loved ones.”

The CMD, who dismissed reports insinuating the student was not attended to at the Health Centre because it was not operating at night as erroneous, stated, “The said incident did not in any way occur at night, as being alleged.

“The deceased student of Plant Science and Biotechnology was brought to the university health centre around 11:30am on April 8, 2025. The student was rushed into the clinic by her colleagues, having reportedly collapsed during their academic activities. Emergency medical services were promptly initiated, including the basic life support system by the doctor and other medical personnel on duty. The students who brought the deceased can attest to this.

“There was a history of convulsion secondary to the fall in the laboratory, where the deceased student collapsed. There were also the histories of second convulsion and incontinence of urine, while being carried to the school clinic. These histories were given by the students who brought her to the clinic.

“The allegation that there’s usually no medical staff on duty at night at the University Clinic is unfounded. The duty rosters of the doctors, nurses, and other health personnel are there for all who care to have a look at them. The records of students who attended during call duties/night shifts are there for all to see. The admission records are there, too. Our Sickle Cell Warriors and asthma patients, and other emergency cases can attest to this.

“It is important to also note that since the employment of doctors in the University Health Centre in 2013, there have been a doctor, a nurse, an ambulance driver, and other health workers on duty. Hence, the allegation of closing the Health Centre by 4pm is rather malicious and unfounded.

“Notably, the university clinic operates 24-hour services, including weekends, and is never closed even when students are not in session because of staff. Also, the centre is equipped with necessary equipment and there is 24/7 electricity from a solar inverter device and a dedicated diesel generator,” Olawale said.