The eight lawmakers suspended indefinitely by the Zamfara House of Assembly said they have been hounded out of the state by political thugs for exposing the worsening security challenges in the state.

The lawmakers also claimed that some security agents had been sent to hunt for them without any reason, a situation which made them go into hiding.

Bashir Aliyu, who spoke on behalf of the eight suspended lawmakers at a news conference in Zaria on Sunday, said they would only be silenced once action is taken to tame the high level of insecurity in Zamfara.

Mr Aliyu said they moved to effect changes in the assembly’s leadership to draw attention to the alleged prolonged absence of the speaker and his deputy from the state.

He, however, said some forces in the state have since been hounding them instead of working to make the state safe.

According to him, some of the suspended lawmakers were attacked by thugs linked to a politician in the state during the wedding of the deputy governor’s daughter on February 24.

He said a letter dated March 7, 2024, with reference no. ZMHA/ADM/223/Vol. 1 directed them to return the official vehicles in their care to the assembly clerk within seven days.

“We want to notify Nigerians that democracy is in danger in Zamfara despite the prevailing insecurity, poverty, and other challenges bedevilling the state’s people.

“We hence call for the intervention of key stakeholders to salvage the situation,” Mr Aliyu, who represents Gumi I constituency added.

On February 26, the state assembly suspended the eight lawmakers for allegedly holding an illegal plenary.

The suspension of the eight members was to give room for a full investigation.

The suspended lawmakers are Bashir Aliyu (PDP-Gumi 1); Amiru Keta (PDP-Tsafe West); Nasiru Abdullahi (PDP-Maru South); Bashir Masama (PDP-Bukkuyum North); Faruku Dosara (APC-Maradun 1); Ibrahim Tukur (APC-Bakura Constituency); Shamsudeen Hassan (APC Talata-Mafara North) and Bashiru Sarkin-Zango (PDP-Bungudu West). 

(NAN)