By Ismaeel Aleem
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has voiced profound alarm over the surge in political violence and insecurity gripping Kebbi State, urging federal and state authorities, alongside security agencies, to mount a swift, collaborative effort to reinstate peace and stability.
Speaking at a press conference in Birnin Kebbi yesterday, following a stakeholders’ meeting, ADC leaders decried the “worsening security situation” and the alarming role of political thugs in fomenting unrest.
Ibrahim Mohammed-Mera, a retired deputy comptroller-general of customs and prominent ADC figure, highlighted the gathering’s focus on these perils, condemning any politician’s complicity in such acts as “shameful.”
The admonition arrives amid fresh allegations from former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who claimed he and his entourage were assailed by armed thugs at a wedding in Argungu.
Malami recounted how the assailants, wielding dangerous weapons, converged from multiple angles to sow panic and disorder.
Mohammed-Mera invoked a parallel outrage: an assault on worshippers inside a mosque during the same ceremony, underscoring the brazen erosion of communal sanctity.
“Kebbi is no longer safe,” Mohammed-Mera declared, pointing to the recent slaying of a soldier in Sakaba as emblematic of broader threats.
He lamented the “increase in banditry, kidnapping, and other crimes” ravaging the state and environs, leaving residents terrified, farmlands fallow, and businesses in tatters.
“If this persists, it will shatter the peace Kebbi has long cherished,” he warned, imploring officials to elevate citizens’ safety and welfare above “empty promises,” ensuring security operations yield tangible outcomes.
Positioning the ADC as an ascendant force for democratic ideals and serene engagement, Mohammed-Mera cautioned that political intimidation imperils Nigeria’s fledgling democracy.
The party recommitted to fostering dialogue and inclusivity, vowing continued collaboration with locals to forge a more harmonious Kebbi.
In a bold overture, he beseeched rival parties to ally with the ADC in ousting incumbents at state and federal tiers, envisioning such unity as a harbinger of renewed hope and prosperity for Nigerians.
