Zamfara Lawmakers Flee State, Citing Threats To Their Lives

Eko Hot Blog reports that the eight lawmakers suspended by the Zamfara State House of Assembly stated on Sunday that they were forced to leave the state by political thugs after revealing the escalating insecurity in the region.

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They also said the House had written to them to return their official vehicles to the Clerk.

Report revealed that Zamfara State House of Assembly on 27 February suspended eight lawmakers for allegedly holding an illegal plenary.

The eight suspended lawmakers are Bashir Aliyu (PDP-Gummi 1); Amiru Keta (PDP-Tsafe West); Nasiru Abdullahi (PDP-Maru South); Bashir Masama (PDP-Bukkuyum North); Faruku Dosara (APC-Maradun 1); Ibrahim Tukur (APC-Bakura Constituency); Shamsudeen Hassan (APC Talata-Mafara North) and Bashiru Sarkin-Zango (PDP-Bungudu West).

During a press conference held in Zaria, Kaduna State on Sunday, the lawmakers claimed that they were being pursued by security agents without cause, prompting them to go into hiding.

Bashir Aliyu, who spoke on behalf of the suspended lawmakers, said they would not be silenced until action was taken to tame the high level of insecurity in Zamfara.

He mentioned that when they moved to effect changes in the leadership of the Assembly, it was to draw attention to the alleged prolonged absence of the Speaker and his deputy from the state.

However, he noted that instead of focusing on making the state safe, certain elements within the state have been harassing them.

He further stressed that some of the lawmakers who were suspended were assaulted by thugs associated with a politician in the state during the Deputy Governor daughter’s wedding on 24 February.

He said a letter with Reference No. ZMHA/ADM/223/Vol. 1, dated March 7, has now directed them to return the official vehicles in their care to the Clerk of the state Assembly within seven days.

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Aliyu, representing the Gumi 1 constituency, said, “We want to notify you that democracy is in danger in Zamfara State despite the prevailing insecurity and other challenges bedeviling the people of the state.

“We, hence, call for the intervention of key stakeholders to salvage the situation.”

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