The ADC Governorship Candidate in Sokoto State, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, has expressed grave concern over the escalating attacks by bandits across the state, echoing Amnesty International’s call for urgent action to protect lives and property. Dan’iya said reports of communities being sacked, villages razed, and women and girls abducted demonstrate that insecurity has reached a critical level requiring immediate and coordinated intervention by both the Sokoto State Government and the Federal Government. He particularly cited the recent displacement of residents from communities including Girkau, Romon Liman, Romon Sarki, Margai and Masu, which reportedly forced affected villagers into Tambuwal town and triggered protests over the worsening security situation.
In a statement signed by his Media Aide, Aminu Abdullahi, Dan’iya said the concerns raised by Amnesty International should not be dismissed as political commentary but treated as a serious warning about the humanitarian and security situation confronting Sokoto communities. He said the reported protest in Tambuwal, including the blocking of the Tambuwal-Jega and Tambuwal-Aleiro roads, reflects the frustration of citizens who feel abandoned in the face of repeated attacks. “When entire communities are driven from their ancestral homes, when women and girls are abducted and when citizens take to the streets demanding protection, government cannot afford silence. This is a humanitarian and security emergency that requires action, not political explanations,” he said.
Dan’iya accused the APC-led Sokoto State Government of failing to demonstrate the urgency required to confront the crisis, saying the administration’s apparent silence whenever fresh attacks occur has become a matter of serious concern. He said residents deserve at least a clear official response, an account of measures being taken and evidence of coordinated efforts to prevent further attacks, rescue abducted citizens and restore displaced communities. He also called on security agencies to intensify intelligence-led operations and ensure that persons suspected of perpetrating the atrocities are apprehended and brought to justice in accordance with the law.
The ADC candidate further questioned the government’s stewardship of public resources, arguing that the scale of insecurity makes accountability and prioritisation of expenditure even more important. He said the Sokoto State Government and Local Governments have reportedly received more than ₦1.2 trillion in allocations from the Federation Account during the period under review, and challenged the administration to demonstrate clearly what portion of available resources has been deployed towards security, humanitarian relief, community protection and the restoration of affected communities. “Citizens cannot be told that there is no money to respond to their suffering while public funds continue to flow into government coffers. The people have a right to know how their resources are being used and what measurable results those resources are producing,” Dan’iya said.
Dan’iya said insecurity cannot be separated from the wider humanitarian and economic crisis in Sokoto, as the displacement of farmers and destruction of communities undermine food production, livelihoods, education and local economies. He urged the state government to establish an emergency response framework for displaced persons, support affected families and work with traditional rulers, community leaders and security agencies to restore safe access to farms and markets. He also called on the Federal Government to strengthen security operations across the affected areas and provide the resources necessary to protect vulnerable communities.
Dan’iya commended Amnesty International and other organisations raising concerns over the plight of victims while urging the Sokoto Government to move beyond silence and provide decisive leadership. He stressed that the responsibility of government is to protect citizens irrespective of their political affiliation, location or social status. “Sokoto cannot continue to lose its people, communities and livelihoods while those entrusted with leadership remain largely silent. The people deserve protection, accountability and a government that treats every life as valuable,” he said. He reaffirmed that an ADC administration would make security, protection of communities, humanitarian response and responsible management of public resources central to its governance agenda, while calling on the electorate to demand measurable results from those seeking their mandate in 2027.
Signed:
Aminu Abdullahi
Media Aide to the ADC Sokoto Governorship Candidate
