Skip to main content

Zamfara Gov threatened with ICC probe for ‘withholding information’ about bandits

A northern civil society group, the Northern Intelligentsia Network (NIN), has vowed to file a petition at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague against Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, over alleged complicity in the wave of killings, kidnappings, and destruction caused by armed bandits in the state.

In a statement issued on Friday by its president, Dr Aminu Shehu, the group accused Lawal of “aiding and abetting crimes against humanity” through his actions and inactions — and warned that his recent public comments had further confirmed their suspicions of culpability.

“Governor Dauda Lawal has openly admitted that he knows where the bandits are operating from, yet he has refused to provide this intelligence to security agencies,” Shehu said. “Such deliberate withholding of critical information, at a time when communities are being ravaged, amounts to aiding and abetting. It is not merely negligence — it is complicity.”

According to NIN, the governor’s conduct violates both his constitutional duty to protect lives and property and provisions of international humanitarian law designed to safeguard civilians during conflict.

ALSO READ: Calls for emergency rule in Zamfara as Tinubu pressured to act on banditry allegations

“Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the widespread and systematic targeting of civilians constitutes crimes against humanity,” the group said. “By withholding actionable intelligence and failing to mobilise effective countermeasures, Governor Lawal has crossed the threshold into culpable complicity.”

The group cited reports from communities in Maradun, Anka, Shinkafi, and Tsafe local government areas, where women have been raped, children mutilated, and villages burnt to the ground.

“These atrocities are not isolated incidents — they are systematic and targeted against vulnerable civilian populations,” Shehu added. “Article 7 of the Rome Statute is explicit: a leader who knowingly permits such sustained attacks shares responsibility for them.”

Group says silence emboldens bandits

The group said Lawal’s public admission of knowing bandits’ hideouts, without acting on the information, amounts to an abdication of responsibility that has emboldened the attackers and worsened the suffering of Zamfara’s residents.

It also argued that the governor’s stance violates the Geneva Conventions, which require state authorities to take all feasible measures to protect civilians in conflict situations.

“Other states have adopted creative strategies — from empowering local vigilantes to enhancing intelligence-sharing — but Zamfara’s governor has chosen denial, blame-shifting, and silence,” NIN stated.

The group revealed that it is already assembling a team of Nigerian and international lawyers to file a petition at the ICC, including testimonies from victims, humanitarian reports, and evidence of the governor’s alleged failure to act.

“Under the doctrine of command responsibility recognised by the Rome Statute, political leaders who enable or fail to prevent atrocities can and must be held accountable,” Shehu said. “When leaders normalise slaughter through inaction, they must answer before international tribunals.”

NIN also urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene decisively, warning that the Zamfara crisis threatens wider regional stability.

“Zamfara is becoming a killing field. If nothing is done, the violence will spill further into the North-West and beyond,” Shehu warned.

ALSO READ: Shinkafi blasts soldiers for ‘waiting on Abuja’ amid insecurity in Zamfara

The group concluded by calling on civil society, religious leaders, and the international community to stand with victims.

“We cannot afford silence in the face of this slow genocide. Governor Lawal’s refusal to act has placed him squarely within the bracket of those who must be held accountable,” it said.

ridoola.blogspot.com.ng

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Okpebholo suspends A-G & LG Chair under 3 months over finance dealings

The Edo Government has announced the suspension of Samson Osagie , its Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, and Damian Lawani , chairman of the Local Government Service Commission. Mr Musa Ikhilor , Secretary to the State Government (SSG) announced the suspension in a statement in Benin on Thursday morning. ALSO READ: Kano Govt suspend 2 school principals for alleged absenteeism, negligence Ikhilor said the two-state top officials were suspended over allegations of “grave official and financial interactions”. Okpebholo suspends Edo Attorney-General and LG Service Commission Chairman According to him, the suspension, which takes immediate effect, is pending the conclusion of an investigation into the allegations. The SSG said; It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that Gov. Monday Okpebholo has approved the suspension from office of the Chairman of Edo Local Government Service Commission, Damian Lawani and Commissioner for Justice, Samson Os...

Family Homes Funds, TETFund & Private Investors Lead National PPP Drive for Renewed Hope Student Housing Projects

The Renewed Hope Student Housing Project is a Public Private Partnership initiative of His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR that is set to improve the living standards and revitalize infrastructure across Tertiary Institutions in the country with a plan to deliver 38,400 world class student hostel bed spaces across a total of 24 locations: 12 Universities, 6 Polytechnics & 6 Colleges of Education. The Renewed Hope Student Hostel Project in each of the 24 locations will boast 1,600 bed spaces, 400 ensuite rooms with study table and chairs, 4 reading rooms, common room, cafeteria & restaurants, laundromat, grocery shops, salons, public toilets etc.  Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL), in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and Africa Plus Partners Nigeria Limited is set to deliver on Mr. President’s promise to transform student accommodation nationwide through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Renewed Hope Stude...

NYSC Mobilisation & Academic Standards – Raising quality or adding pressure on students?

On September 29, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved a reform linking the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilisation process to the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD). By invoking Sections 2(4)(4) and 16(1)(C) of the NYSC Act, Tinubu stated that no graduate, whether from a Nigerian or foreign institution, will be mobilised for or exempted from NYSC without proof of compliance with the NERD policy. In a common man's understanding, the Federal Government has announced that Nigerian students must now submit their final-year projects or thesis before they can be mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). This policy aims to improve academic standards, ensuring that no student skips essential academic requirements before entering the NYSC scheme . On the surface, this sounds like a laudable idea, but a deeper look reveals a different reality. In many universities, students are allowed to graduate and mobilised for NYSC  ...