A resident of Shinkafi local government Dr. Sulaiman Shuaibu Sarkin Shanun Shinkafi cried out that despite new measures put in place by Zamfara State Government, the security situation of the people of Shinkafi remain a source of concern as bandits continue to launch deadly attacks on the people of the area.
He told BBC Hausa service on Thursday that nothing has changed as per the continued armed bandit activities along several parts of Shinkafi area.
He said the soldiers recently deployed to protect lives and properties were redeployed after three days, while those earlier stationed permanently along the area are not more than twenty (20) soldiers
He further said by statistics there are over one hundred and fifty (150) villages under Shinkafi Emirate with just twenty (20) soldiers and police officers that are averagely around eighteen (18) in number.
He added that despite the new measures the government has adopted the bandits are still attacking communities and killing people, noting that, recently, a man went to the outskirts of the Shinkafi town to harvest a millet, but the bandits shot him to death and wounded his child who is currently on admission at hospital facility.
Dr. Shinkafi added that, since when these new measures are instituted by the government the bandits have invaded about eight communities in Shinkafi including places like Shanawa, Katuru, Kursasa, Bula, Bari, Jangeru and Kamarawa in the neighboring Sokoto State but shared borders with Shinkafi in Zamfara.
He said the majority of them who are passionate about the challenges faced by the people in Shinkafi area had to travel to Sokoto and make calls to those who are supposed to know the real condition of Shinkafi people for them to support where necessary.
When asked on his assessment of the new measures put in place by the state government he replied that disconnecting GSM network, closing of weekly markets and ban on the sales of petroleum substance are all good steps but explained that, instead of the security operatives to follow and killed them at their hideout considering the difficulties they are undergoing due to shortage of all these amenities, they are allowed them to be pushed by frustration and be fighting the community back.
