A Nigerian coalition has taken the extraordinary step of petitioning United States President Donald Trump, calling for international intervention to address the escalating security crisis in Zamfara State and northern Nigeria.
Humanitarian Disaster Unfolding in Northern Nigeria
The group, Concerned Nigerians for Human Security, described the persistent violence in the region as a humanitarian disaster requiring urgent global response. In an open letter to the American president, the coalition detailed how thousands of civilians, including vulnerable women and children, have been either murdered or kidnapped by armed groups.
The petition revealed that entire communities have been completely wiped out amid the continuing violence, which the group says reflects an alarming collapse of leadership and accountability in how security resources are being managed.
Demand for Sanctions Against Governor Lawal
The coalition specifically called for visa restrictions against Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara state and other political figures they accuse of negligence. According to the petition, state authorities have failed to protect citizens despite receiving substantial budgetary allocations specifically designated for security purposes.
The group argued that such international sanctions would apply necessary pressure on political actors who they allege trade human lives for political and financial gain. They emphasized that leadership constitutes a moral duty rather than a personal luxury, and that disrupting the comfort of foreign refuge would compel greater responsibility at home.
Call for State of Emergency in Zamfara
The coalition clarified that the violence in Zamfara lacks religious motivation, noting that both Muslim and Christian communities have suffered equally as victims. They identified the root cause as poor governance, corruption, and mismanagement of public funds meant for security operations.
While acknowledging President Bola Tinubu's recent efforts to deploy special forces and strengthen national security structures, the group maintained that such measures will prove ineffective without genuine commitment from state governments. They urgently called for the Nigerian government to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara to stop the bloodshed and begin rebuilding devastated communities.
The petition concluded with an appeal for moral intervention and international support to help break the cycle of killings and displacement that has plagued Zamfara and broader northern Nigeria.
