President Bola Tinubu has been encouraged by Human Rights Watchdog in Africa (HRWA) to impose a state of emergency in Zamfara, a volatile state in Nigeria’s northwest.
Governor Dauda Lawal was charged by the group of encouraging insecurity by engaging in careless political maneuvering and showing a flagrant disrespect for human life.
The urgent request was made on November 28, 2025, in direct response to shocking news that more than 500 prisoners convicted of crimes related to banditry—many of whom had been imprisoned under earlier administrations—had been suddenly released from the Gusau Correctional Facility.
According to facility insiders, among the released inmates were 69 seasoned bandits who were purportedly granted a covert state amnesty by Governor Lawal as early as September 2025.
In order to facilitate their reintegration into society, it was revealed that these ex-offenders were directed through the Zamfara State Zakat and Endowment Board for “Religious Amnesty.”
Sources indicated that eight defendants jailed in January 2022 for horrible crimes, including as cannibalism, criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, and selling in human parts, were among those who profited from what HRWA called Lawal’s “backdoor amnesty,” adding to the indignation.
Thousands of Zamfara residents are in “a serious circle of confusion and fear” as a result of the releases, which are linked to convictions from the administrations of former Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle (now Minister of State Defense) and former Governor Senator Abdul’aziz Yari. Communities are preparing for a possible return of violence.
In a scathing statement, HRWA Executive Director Samson Adamu criticized Lawal for using the state’s widespread banditry problem as a political football.
Adamu said, “This is completely against humanity and sacrilegious.” “Governor Lawal has always played politics while our people suffer, never really taking the insecurity afflicting Zamfara seriously.”
“Since he took office, things have drastically worsened: families have been split apart, villages have been destroyed, and now there is this betrayal by releasing convicted murderers back onto our streets under the pretense of amnesty.”
Governor Lawal was accused by Adamu of making hollow claims about putting an end to banditry “in two months” while covertly protecting those responsible.
“It is a death sentence for innocent civilians and a mockery of justice. How can a leader who professes to be aware of every bandit kingpin’s position, including their phone numbers, forgive the same creatures that are frightening his people?
It’s complicity rather than government. Lawal’s actions have given criminals more confidence, undermined public confidence in the legal system, and made Zamfara a haven for bandits. President Tinubu must intervene immediately if he refuses to defend his people.
The watchdog recommended Tinubu to remove Lawal, restructure the state’s security apparatus, and initiate a federal investigation into the pardons by using the emergency powers granted under the Nigerian Constitution. “Strictly punish him,” Adamu emphasized.
Before further blood is shed, take away his power. HRWA supports Zamfara’s voiceless victims; we won’t stop until accountability is achieved.
