ZAMFARA MASSACRE: HURIWA DEMANDS SACK OF DEFENCE MINISTER, COAS RESIGNATION

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the recent massacre of over 100 individuals in Zamfara State, describing it as a devastating reminder of the near-total collapse of security governance in Nigeria. The group demanded the immediate resignation of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, and the sack of the Senior Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, expressed outrage at the lack of military response during the hours-long confrontation between members of the Civilian Protection Guard (CPG) and fighters loyal to notorious bandit leader Bello Turji. “This massacre is yet another tragic reminder of the near-total collapse of security governance in Nigeria,” Onwubiko said. “The failure to deploy forces in the face of such a large-scale attack is a betrayal of public trust and constitutional responsibility.”

Onwubiko criticized the Nigerian Army under General Oluyede for failing to conduct effective preemptive intelligence operations, respond rapidly to crises, or coordinate meaningfully with community-led defence efforts. “The current security leadership is neither proactive nor reactive, but entirely absent,” he added.

The group referenced a recent Amnesty International report, which revealed that at least 10,217 people have been killed in attacks across Nigeria since President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023. Onwubiko noted that the Northwest region, including Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, and Sokoto, recorded some of the highest casualty figures.

HURIWA called for a thorough investigation into the failure of the security agencies to act on available intelligence and deploy forces during the attack. The group also demanded the establishment of a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Zamfara massacre and identify lapses in the security system.

“Bello Turji and others like him must not be allowed to operate unchecked,” Onwubiko stressed. “If the government fails to act decisively, it risks normalising mass killings and losing public confidence. President Tinubu’s administration must take full responsibility for Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation unless urgent reforms are implemented,” the statement warned.