(Big Story)

By

Managing Editor
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Things are seemingly falling apart in Shinkafi local government area of Zamfara state as bandits constantly and on the daily basis attacked the residents of the area on the broad day-light.

For almost more than a week now, there is no single day when bandits in their large numbers with deadly weapons would not invade Shinkafi town, kill and abduct innocent people.

The highway linking Kaura-Namoda with Shinkafi and eventually Isa in Sokoto State had almost became abandoned as passengers are being attacked on the road by these muderous bandits.

On Sunday, the 11th of June 2023, for instance, armed bandits entered Shinkafi town on broad day-light, killed two and abducted scores of other innocent individuals to their hideouts.

On Friday also, they blocked Shinkafi Kaura-Namoda road and abducted over (30) individuals including a female health personnel and until now they did not release any one of the abductees, a source explained on condition of anonymity.

Another source said, “for the past eight days, bandits used to enter Shinkafi town on broad-day light to kill and abduct people indiscriminately”.

“Presently there are over (100) people in captivity, all of them abducted from Shinkafi town, and this is despite the fact that the neighboring villages of Shinkafi are partially under the rules of the armed bandits”.

The source explained that, the security agencies are not helpful in addressing the problem since the bandits carried out their operations on broad-day light and nothing is done and nothing is done to repel their muderous attacks against the innocent people of the state.

“Because of the security situation, people of Shinkafi town had been under partial lock-down; hence it is difficult for them to move out of Shinkafi in a distance of kilometers without being attacked by the bandits.

Farming along Shinkafi area has become virtually impossible; hence the bandits had been issuing constant threat notice on the local farmers, prohibiting them from going to their farmlands for farming activities.

The business people in Shinkafi could not also move round other alternative neighboring markets due to the constant vigilance of the entry road to Shinkafi by the bandits.

Another source who craved anonymity told this medium that the people of Shinkafi are working toward entering into a peace accord with the bandits if that is what is going to bring a lasting peace for them.

“We believe the response from the government and indeed the security agencies in respect of our situation in Shinkafi is demeaning, and we cannot continue to survive under this type of precarious situation, and we believe we have entered into a peace accord with them if that is what is going to bring peace for us”

One of the abductees from Shinkafi a lady by name Nusaiba Gusau has been facing serious threat while in captivity and despite effort to secure her release from her abductors they insisted that certain condition has to be met.

In an audio conversation between one of her relations and the leader of the bandits which was sent to this medium, the bandit leader insisted that unless the sum of (N30M) is paid they would not release her from captivity.

GOV. DAUDA LAWAL PRIORITIZES FIGHT AGAINST INSECURITY

During his swearing in ceremony on the 29th of May 2023 Governor Dauda Lawal had promised to accord priority to ending insecurity and bring a lasting peace in the state.

Immediately on assumption of duty he has met with the heads of the security agencies and indeed the traditional rulers and issues related to intensive management of the security situation of the state had been discussed.

ZMSG INSIST ON NOT ENTERING INTO NEGOTIATION WITH THE BANDITS

In an interview with the BBC Hausa service, one of the spokespersons of the Dauda Lawal the Governor of Zamfara Mal. Mustapha Jafaru Kaura insisted that the bandits are renewing their operations to frustrate the government to enter into negotiation with them.

He stated that the government of Dauda Lawal Dare is not going to enter into negotiation with the armed bandits, instead it will renew commitment to end their heinous activities and restore peace in Zamfara state.

THE GOVERNOR OF ZAMFARA MEETS WITH THE ARMY COMMANDER 8 DIVISION TO DISCUSS ABOUT THE RISING INSECURITY INZAMFARA.

The Governor of Zamfara Dauda Lawal met with the Commander 8 division of the Nigerian army Gen. G. M Mukhtar where issues regarding the rising insecurity in Zamfara state were discussed.

The Governor who posted on his verified personal Facebook page expressed worries with the sad happenings at Shinkafi, Maradun, Tsafe and Bukkuyum local government areas.

The Governor pleaded with the people of Zamfara to be patient more as measures are being put in place to ensure the armed bandit activities had been brought to an end.