Banditry: Concerns raised over safety of NYSC members in Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara
Sani Shinkafi, the former chairman of the Committee on Prosecution of Bandits Related Offences in Zamfara State, has called on the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to reconsider deploying corps members to states plagued by bandit attacks, specifically naming Zamfara, Kebbi, and Sokoto.
This recommendation follows a recent incident where armed bandits abducted eight NYSC members along a highway in Zamfara State, highlighting the increasing risks faced by these young volunteers.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s breakfast program, Sunrise Daily, Shinkafi criticized the current governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, for his reluctance to engage in peace dialogues with repentant bandits.
He contrasted this with the approach taken by Lawal’s predecessor, Bello Matawalle, who actively pursued dialogue with the terrorist groups, leading to the release of abductees in Zamfara.
Shinkafi expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the state, stating, “No place in the 14 local governments of Zamfara is safe.”
He pointed out that in the past, they had successfully reached out to repentant bandits to cooperate with security agencies in rescuing victims without paying ransoms.
