NEWS
Zamfara Horror: Bandits Feed Newborns To Dogs, Says Lawmaker
The lawmaker representing Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji, has delivered a sobering account of the terror sweeping through his constituency, describing scenes of abduction, mass displacement, and brutal killings that have turned once-thriving communities into desolate ghost towns.
Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly, Jaji, a former chairman of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, said Kaura Namoda Local Government Area has witnessed more than 200 attacks in recent months.
Villages like Dayo, Banga, Gabaki, Korea, and Madura, he said, have been hit repeatedly.
“Just two days ago, 60 people were abducted in Banga. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of 30 million naira. Out of those abducted, 10 were killed, and the fate of the remaining 50 hangs in the balance,” Jaji revealed, his voice heavy with concern.
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More than statistics, the lawmaker offered chilling anecdotes. One of the most disturbing involved a pregnant woman who gave birth while in captivity.
“A pregnant woman was abducted. She gave birth to twins while she was in captivity. Then the leader of the bandit took the twins. Then he throw it to his dog. The dog eat the twins one by one. Where are we?”
In another case, he said, a young boy with epilepsy collapsed in front of a bandit—and was executed on the spot for it.
“These are not just stories. These are the everyday realities of our people. Our people are no longer safe, they cannot farm, they cannot trade, and many are internally displaced, unrecognized by both the state and federal governments,” he said.
Jaji did not mince words about the failure of leadership at all levels. He noted that the expectations placed on the ruling party have not been met, especially in the area of security.
“We gave assurances that if our party came to power, insecurity would become history. Unfortunately, the reality today is different,” he lamented.
Efforts to draw attention to the plight of his constituents, including reaching out to the Ministry of Defence and other relevant agencies, have so far yielded little in terms of meaningful intervention.
“People cry to us for help. They come in tears. They are not moving because they know where to go, they are moving because they have no other choice,” he said.
The lawmaker stressed that Zamfara’s descent into chaos comes in stark contrast to its recent past, when it was considered one of the most peaceful states in the country.
“Despite the introduction of Sharia and peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians in the past, we are now ravaged by violence,” he said.
He added that the people of Zamfara deserve to enjoy the same protection as citizens elsewhere, particularly given their role in delivering electoral victory to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 elections.
“This is not about politics anymore. It’s about human lives. The 1999 Constitution, as amended, states clearly that the protection of lives and property is the primary responsibility of government,” he said.
Jaji issued a passionate appeal to President Tinubu and all relevant authorities to take urgent action before the crisis worsens and spreads further.
“This is something that we need to rise to the occasion. We need to speak to ourselves. I said earlier, whether it is micro or micro operation, so certainly something must be done.”
He ended his remarks with a call for unity and decisive action, urging leaders across political and religious lines to treat the insecurity in Zamfara as a national emergency.
“We must rise above politics. We must respond as people of faith and conscience. This is a national emergency.”
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
Nigerians are facing yet another economic blow as petrol prices surge again. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has raised the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N1,175 per litre, marking the third increase in just one week.
The latest adjustment, announced to marketers on Monday, follows a temporary suspension of petrol sales at the refinery on Sunday. Diesel, also known as Automotive Gas Oil, has also been revised upwards to N1,620 per litre.
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A senior refinery official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the hike, noting that it reflects “prevailing market fundamentals and the cost environment we are currently operating in.”
Industry checks show that depot pricing systems have already updated the new rates, signaling an inevitable rise at retail stations.
In some cities, petrol is now being sold at over N1,200 per litre, adding pressure on Nigerian motorists and businesses alike.
This repeated surge comes after earlier increases that pushed gantry prices from N774 to N995 per litre earlier this week.
Experts warn that the hikes are likely to drive up transportation, logistics, and production costs, potentially impacting the prices of goods and services nationwide.
While the Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), is working to secure crude supplies for the refinery via international traders, officials cautioned that this may not immediately reduce prices for consumers.
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