Sh*ckwaves At Constitutional Hearing: Northeast Groups Demand Four New States

The demands were presented on Friday during the opening of a two-day zonal public hearing held in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Ahmad Sajor, Director of Media and Publicity for the Amana State Movement, said in a statement that the push to create Amana State from parts of Adamawa and the Uba Chiefdom in Borno stems from a desire to address what he called a “historical injustice.”

He cited the February 11, 1961 UN-supervised plebiscite in which the area chose to join Nigeria. According to him, at the time, prominent leaders—including the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello—promised that the region would be given distinct status, with Mubi to be elevated to the same level as other state capitals like Kano and Ilorin.

“Sadly, those promises were never fulfilled by the Nigerian state,” Sajor said, describing the renewed agitation as an effort to restore long-overdue recognition.

Similar calls were echoed by proponents of Katagum State (from Bauchi), Muri State (from Taraba), and Savannah State (from Borno).

Supporters attended the hearing wearing branded shirts and holding placards urging the National Assembly to approve the proposed states.

A member of the Katagum movement, who requested anonymity, said: “Our request is simple—we want Katagum State. We trust in this current assembly and believe that after evaluating our proposal, they will grant our demand.”

The hearing was attended by notable figures from the region, including Borno State Deputy Governor Usman Kadafur (representing the Governor), federal lawmakers from Borno’s three senatorial zones, former Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi, and the Shehu of Borno, among others.