BY: ABDULLAHI ALHASSAN, KADUNA
An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and security analyst, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has described roads across Zamfara State as death traps, warning that persistent bandit attacks, kidnappings and killings have put residents and travellers at serious risk.
Shinkafi, who is also a senatorial aspirant, said all 14 local government areas of the state were facing severe security challenges, citing the recent confrontation between angry residents and the convoy of the Deputy Governor in Bukkuyum Local Government Area as evidence of growing public frustration.
He said the incident, during which residents reportedly blocked access routes and protested against the state government despite the presence of security personnel, sent a serious warning about the worsening security situation.
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“That attack is a serious danger signal. It shows there is serious anger on the land,” he said.
‘Every Road Is A Death Trap’
The APC Chieftain identified several routes linking Gusau with Tsafe, Anka, Kaura Namoda, Shinkafi and Zurmi as dangerous for motorists and other travellers.
He also listed routes connecting rural communities, including Bukkuyum, Gummi, Bagega, Nahuche and Mayanchi, alleging that bandit activities had severely restricted movement and economic activities.
Shinkafi further claimed that more than 10 security personnel had been killed in an attack on an escort team accompanying travellers to a market days before the confrontation involving the deputy governor’s convoy.
He said the situation had left residents afraid to travel to markets, visit farms or move freely between communities.
Gusau Now ‘Supermarket For Bandits’
Shinkafi also expressed concern over the security situation in Gusau, the state capital, alleging that killings, kidnappings and ransom demands had become persistent threats to residents.
“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.
He described Gusau as a “supermarket for bandits,” arguing that the presence of security personnel had not sufficiently deterred attacks.
The APC chieftain commended frontline security personnel for their efforts but said they were struggling with inadequate manpower, equipment, motivation and recognition.
He also questioned whether government expenditure on security was translating into meaningful improvements in the safety of residents.
Rejects Negotiations, Calls For Military Action
Shinkafi called for intensified military operations against armed groups, arguing that negotiations with bandits could encourage further criminality.
“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.
However, he stressed that military action should be accompanied by measures to address underlying challenges, including unemployment, poverty, drug abuse, weaknesses in the judicial system, inadequate infrastructure, the proliferation of small arms and climate change.
Appeals To Tinubu, Zamfara Governor
The APC chieftain appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deploy additional troops to Zamfara and urged Governor Dauda Lawal to prioritise efforts to restore security across the state.
He warned that continued insecurity could become a major issue in the 2027 general elections, as residents evaluate the performance of political leaders on security.
“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 remarks followed reports of a confrontation between residents and the deputy governor’s convoy in Bukkuyum, amid concerns over repeated bandit attacks in the area.
While Shinkafi maintained that conditions on the ground contradicted claims of improving security, his assessment reflects his account of the situation. The allegations concerning the extent of insecurity and the performance of security operations require continued scrutiny and independent verification.