An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and security analyst, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has warned that Zamfara State is sending out a “serious danger signal” following an attack on the deputy governor’s convoy in Bukkuyum Local Government Area.
Shinkafi, who is also a senatorial aspirant, said the incident reflected growing public frustration with banditry and what he described as the government’s failure to adequately address the security crisis.
Speaking in an interview in Kaduna, he said the ability of villagers to block roads and confront the deputy governor despite the presence of security personnel showed the extent of public anger.
“That attack is a serious danger signal. It shows there is serious anger on the land,” he said.
“With all the security personnel escorting the Deputy Governor, it did not deter the villagers from blocking the road and chanting slogans against the state government and the APC. That tells you how bad things have become.”
The security analyst linked the incident in Bukkuyum to what he described as a broader deterioration of security across the state.
He claimed that more than 10 security personnel had been killed by bandits a few days earlier while escorting travellers to a market.
Shinkafi said all 14 local government areas of Zamfara were facing serious security threats, warning that travel along several major routes had become increasingly dangerous.
“Zamfara, all the 14 local government areas are under siege,” he said.
“If you are a motorist travelling from Gusau to Tsafe, it is like signing your death warrant. Gusau to Anka, Gusau to Kaura Namoda, Shinkafi, Zurmi, Jibia road — all are death traps.”
He also listed the routes connecting Shinkafi, Sokoto, Isa, Marafa, Nahuche, Mayanchi, Gummi, Bagega and Bukkuyum among areas he said were affected by insecurity.
Shinkafi painted a grim picture of life in Zamfara’s capital, Gusau, alleging that residents were living in fear of killings, kidnappings and ransom demands.
“People are killed on a daily basis. People are kidnapped from their homes. Payment of ransom is persistent. They cannot go to their farms, they cannot go to market, and all the schools are closed,” he said.
“Bandits impose levies on villagers. With all the military presence in Gusau, they kill at will and kidnap at any time. Gusau now feels like a supermarket for bandits.”
He acknowledged the efforts of frontline security personnel but argued that they lacked adequate manpower, equipment, motivation and institutional support.
Shinkafi also questioned whether government spending on security was producing sufficient results.
“On the part of frontline security personnel, they are trying their best. But they are understaffed, under-equipped, under-motivated and under-appreciated. Government claims more budget has been proposed for security, but the performance does not match the figures appropriated,” he said.
Shinkafi Rejects Negotiations With Bandits
On possible solutions, the APC chieftain called for intensified military operations against armed groups, alongside measures to address the socio-economic factors contributing to insecurity.
“The only way forward is to apply a total military approach against these bandits in their enclaves. If you say you want to negotiate with bandits, you are rewarding criminality,” he said.
He, however, stressed that military action alone would not resolve the crisis, urging the government to address unemployment, poverty, drug abuse, weaknesses in the judicial system, poor infrastructure, the proliferation of small arms and the effects of climate change.
According to him, tackling these underlying challenges would be necessary to achieve lasting peace and prevent criminal groups from recruiting more people.
Shinkafi called on President Bola Tinubu to deploy additional troops to Zamfara State and urged Governor Dauda Lawal to focus on resolving the security challenges facing residents.
“This is the time for Mr President to sit up, and for the Governor to come back and stay at home to find a lasting solution. The time for junketing all over the world is over,” he said.
He also warned that continued insecurity could affect the APC’s performance in the 2027 general elections if voters believed the government had failed to protect them.
“If care is not taken, God forbid, the electorate will use this insecurity as a yardstick to vote against APC. I am a member of APC and a senatorial aspirant, but I am telling you the truth,” he said.
The reported attack on the deputy governor’s convoy in Bukkuyum comes amid continuing concerns over banditry, kidnappings and attacks on communities in Zamfara State.
While government officials have maintained that security conditions are improving in some areas and that additional resources are being committed to tackling insecurity, Shinkafi disputed that assessment.
He insisted that the situation experienced by residents on the ground painted a different picture, calling for urgent action to restore safety across the state.
