By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Senator Ibrahim Lamido, representing Sokoto East Senatorial District, has outlined the reasons behind his planned exit from the All Progressives Congress, citing the deteriorating security situation in his constituency.
In an interview with journalists in Sokoto on Friday, Lamido said persistent bandit attacks across communities in Sokoto East and what he described as the government’s inadequate response compelled his decision to leave the ruling party.
He noted that several villages have been ravaged, leaving many residents displaced and stripped of their means of livelihood.
According to the senator, his decision is driven by the need to align with the concerns of his constituents rather than any personal or political interest.
“My people are going through untold hardship. Communities have been destroyed by bandits, and I cannot continue to remain in a system that has not demonstrated sufficient commitment to addressing this crisis,” he stated.
Lamido added that multiple efforts to attract federal intervention and draw attention to the worsening insecurity in the district have not yielded meaningful results.
He disclosed that, after wide consultations with supporters, political associates, and community leaders, a consensus was reached to exit the APC and explore a political platform that prioritises security and grassroots development.
The lawmaker stressed that protecting lives and property remains the core responsibility of any government, adding that leaders must be held accountable when they fail in that duty.
He also urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to combat banditry and restore peace across Sokoto State and other affected northern regions, warning that continued inaction could worsen the humanitarian situation.
Sokoto East Senatorial District, which includes local government areas such as Sabon Birni, Isa, and Rabah, has in recent years emerged as one of the flashpoints of banditry in northwestern Nigeria. Armed groups have carried out repeated attacks on rural communities, resulting in killings, abductions, and large-scale displacement of residents.
Despite ongoing military operations and other security interventions, many affected communities continue to report sporadic attacks, forcing residents to flee to safer locations or neighbouring towns.
The growing insecurity remains a major political and humanitarian concern in the region, frequently drawing criticism from stakeholders who argue that more decisive and sustained efforts are required to restore peace.
While Lamido did not disclose his next political destination, some of his close allies who recently left the APC have reportedly defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The Punch