Concerned Nigerians Petition Trump Over Zamfara Killings, Demand Visa Ban on Governor Lawal

A coalition under the banner of Concerned Nigerians for Human Security has written to former United States President Donald Trump, urging him to draw international attention to the worsening security situation in Zamfara State and other parts of northern Nigeria.

In an open letter addressed to Trump, the group described the ongoing killings and mass displacement in Zamfara as “a humanitarian tragedy that demands urgent global response.”

According to the coalition, thousands of Nigerians—men, women, and children—have been killed, kidnapped, or forced to flee their homes due to persistent attacks by armed groups.

“We write not just as citizens mourning the thousands whose lives have been brutally cut short across parts of northern Nigeria, but as people who recognize your important role as a global leader always ready to confront moral wrongs,” part of the letter read.

The group alleged that despite billions of naira allocated for security across various states, the crisis in Zamfara has continued to escalate, resulting in widespread deaths and the destruction of entire communities. It attributed the situation to what it described as “a total breakdown of leadership and accountability in the management of security resources.”

The coalition called on Trump and the U.S. government to impose visa restrictions on certain Nigerian political figures, including Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, as part of efforts to enforce international accountability on leaders who “trade human lives for political and financial gain.”

“Leadership is a moral duty, not a personal luxury,” the group stated, adding that targeted sanctions would “disrupt the comfort derived from foreign refuge and compel responsibility at home.”

It further clarified that the violence in Zamfara should not be perceived through a religious lens, emphasizing that both Muslims and Christians have been victims of the ongoing crisis.

“These killings have no religious connection. They are the direct result of governance failure, gross negligence, and the mismanagement of security resources,” the coalition maintained.

The petition commended President Bola Tinubu for deploying special forces and strengthening national security mechanisms but stressed that “no federal intervention can succeed where state leaders fail to act with urgency.”

It also urged the Nigerian government to consider declaring a state of emergency in Zamfara to restore order and rebuild affected communities.

“We are appealing for moral intervention and international support to help end the cycle of killings and displacement in Zamfara and across northern Nigeria,” the group concluded.