Former chairman of the Committee on Prosecution of Bandits Related Offences in Zamfara State, Sani Shinkafi, has urged the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to cease posting corps members to states grappling with incessant bandit attacks. Shinkafi’s appeal, which he made during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program, comes in the wake of a recent abduction incident involving eight NYSC members along a highway in Zamfara State.
Specifically, Shinkafi pinpointed Zamfara, Kebbi, and Sokoto as states where the NYSC should halt the deployment of corps members, citing the dire security situation prevalent in these areas.
His recommendation echoes growing concerns about the safety of corps members serving in regions plagued by banditry and insecurity. The call for action follows a distressing event where armed bandits abducted eight NYSC members, highlighting the precarious conditions in these states.
During the interview, Shinkafi criticized the stance of Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, accusing him of refusing to engage in a “peace dialogue” with repentant bandits. He contended that the approach taken by Lawal’s predecessor, Bello Matawalle, to engage in negotiations with the terrorists had been instrumental in securing the release of abductees in Zamfara.
Shinkafi stated, “If this type of situation happens, we used to reach out to these repentant bandits, and they would collaborate with security agencies to either rescue the victims or retrieve them from their captors without paying any ransom. But under this administration, I am telling you, many people were killed, many people were kidnapped. More than 2,000 people were killed and kidnapped. No place in the 14 local governments of Zamfara is safe.”
Governor Dauda Lawal, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emerged victorious in the governorship election held on March 18, defeating the incumbent, Bello Matawalle, who was seeking a second term. Matawalle has since been appointed as the Minister of State for Defence after being sworn in by President Bola Tinubu.
Shinkafi’s call for the NYSC to reconsider its posting policies to safeguard the lives of corps members in states facing bandit-related challenges underscores the urgency of addressing the security situation in these regions.
