The Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) has issued a statement calling for the Federal Government of Nigeria to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State. In their press release, the organization highlighted what they describe as a “complete breakdown of order” in the northern state, characterized by widespread violence, kidnappings, and the shutdown of essential services.
The NDYC’s statement draws a direct comparison between the current situation in Zamfara and the recent federal intervention in Rivers State, where a state of emergency was declared over what the youth congress characterized as “political disagreement and internal party issues.” The organization argues that the security crisis in Zamfara, which they describe as “existential” rather than merely political, warrants equal if not greater intervention.
According to the press release, the situation in Zamfara includes mass kidnappings, village raids, and the resignation of a former Inspector General of Police from the state’s Security Trust Fund over governance concerns. The NDYC also noted political paralysis within the Zamfara State House of Assembly, which they claim mirrors the conditions that prompted federal action in Rivers State.
The organization framed their demand as a test of the federal government’s consistency and fairness in governance, stating that differential treatment would suggest “some regions are above the law while others are governed by force.” The statement was signed by Israel Uwejeyan, identified as the National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Youth Congress.