Our lives under threat, suspended Zamfara lawmakers allege

The eight suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have alleged that some persons are threatening their lives.

The lawmakers raised the alarm at a news conference in Zaria on Sunday.

They were suspended on February 27 for an alleged violation of the Assembly’s Order 10, Rule 9.

Bashir Aliyu, representing the Gummi 1 constituency in the Assembly, who addressed the press conference, alleged that they were “illegally” suspended and harassed for exposing the acute insecurity in the state and prolonged absence of the speaker and his deputy from the state.

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Aliyu further alleged that political thugs suspected to be loyalists of the speaker, Bilyamin Moriki, attacked some of the suspended members at the deputy governor’s daughter’s wedding on Feb. 24.

He also alleged that a joint team of police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) armed with sophisticated weapons were tracing the suspended members at their various houses to arrest them.

“We want to notify you that democracy is in danger in our dear state despite insecurity, poverty and other challenges bedevilling the state, hence the call for the intervention of key stakeholders to salvage the situation,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Zamfara State Command, ASP Yazid Abubakar, said: “The command has not received any formal complaints from the suspended lawmakers that someone is threatening their lives.

“I’m hearing about their allegations for the first time from you. None of them informed the police of this allegation. They have not contacted the police at all.”