Shinkafi urges military, Zamfara govt to collaborate against banditry

An All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Sani Shinkafi, has called for stronger collaboration between the military and the Zamfara State government to end banditry in the state.

His remarks followed a recent statement by Governor Dauda Lawal, who said banditry could be eradicated within two months if he had direct control of security agencies.

In a statement on Sunday, Shinkafi, who is also the executive director of the Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development, said synergy was crucial to defeating the decade-long insecurity in Zamfara.

He urged security agencies to be firm and decisive, rather than waiting for orders from Abuja before acting.

“The people of Zamfara have been at the mercy of armed bandits who kill, wound, abduct, rape, displace communities, impose levies, rustle cattle, and destroy properties worth billions of naira for over a decade,” he said.

Shinkafi noted that the state government has already procured advanced technology, including environmental remote sensing, geographical information systems (GIS), and global positioning systems, GPS, to identify bandits’ hideouts.

“It is obvious that banditry in the state can end within two months if there is collaboration between the military and the state government to flush out these criminal elements. What is lacking is the political will to crush them,” he added.

He also appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to intervene and ensure security and public safety in Zamfara.