Ex‑lawmaker Zakari Mohammed urges Tinubu to declare state of emergency on security
A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately declare a state of emergency on national security.
Hon. Mohammed warned that the country is sinking deeper into violence following a string of mass abductions and targeted killings over the past week.
Speaking on Arise News on Friday, Mohammed said the deteriorating security landscape, including the kidnapping of schoolchildren and farmers in Niger and Kwara States, as well as the killing of a senior military officer in Borno, showed that the administration lacked the decisiveness required to confront the crisis.
According to him, “The President must suspend political engagements and devote his full attention to addressing the bloodshed.
“Mr President should just abandon everything and declare a state of emergency on security.
”The political will to tackle this situation is missing. Instead of campaigning and welcoming defectors, he needs to return to work fully. This country is bleeding, ” he said.
He cited incidents across several states, noting that the killings were widespread and increasing in frequency.
“In Kwara alone, we had an attack inside a church. In the northern part of the state, rice farmers were abducted, some didn’t survive.
”Then in Niger, particularly in Papiripa, lives were also lost. These things are happening simultaneously,” he said.
Mohammed also faulted the government’s approach to its strained relations with the United States, following President Donald Trump’s accusation that Nigerian Christians are being targeted for extermination.
He described the diplomatic mission led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu as poorly conceived.
“For me, it’s a diplomatic miscalculation. I don’t understand why Mr President is reluctant to face Trump directly.
”Nigeria is not some back-row nation in global affairs. We have the human capacity to represent ourselves with dignity. What we are seeing now makes us look like jesters, ” he said.
He warned that the sheer scale of killings under the current administration should alarm international observers.
“Over 10,300 Nigerians were killed before these latest incidents,” Mohammed said, referencing data compiled by international organisations based in Abuja.
He added that,“more than 10,000 lives in two years. That number is frightening.”
The former lawmaker urged the United States to assist Nigeria with advanced intelligence tools and aerial surveillance, arguing that modern warfare requires more precision and less reliance on traditional ground operations.
He said,“with their satellites, the Americans know exactly where these criminals hide in our forests.
“Even without deploying ground troops, they can use technology to neutralise them.
”The world has moved on from purely kinetic warfare. Some missiles travel across continents. Why can’t we deploy similar solutions?”
Mohammed also questioned the circumstances surrounding the recent killing of a Brigadier General in Borno, insisting that the nation deserves clarity.
“He reportedly shared details of his location. How did that information leak?” he asked.
“By now, there should be an investigation. In any serious country, such a case would be probed immediately to prevent a recurrence.”
As the U.S. Congress holds hearings on Nigeria’s insecurity and alleged religious persecution, Mohammed said American lawmakers should focus their recommendations strictly on intelligence and technological assistance.
“What they should emphasise is intelligence gathering and upgrading our security infrastructure.
“Drones can handle a significant part of this fight. Instead of sending soldiers into dangerous zones where we lose them in numbers, technology can help identify and eliminate threats accurately, ” he said.
He urged Nigerians to prioritise national stability over political sentiment.
“We must drop emotions. If we lose this country, we’ve lost everything. This is the only home we have, ” he said.
