A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Chairman of Prosecution of Armed Banditry Related Offences in Zamfara State, Dr. Sani Shinkafi, has accused the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, of frustrating efforts of the federal government and security agencies to restore security and peace in the state by his unguarded outburst that the federal government was negotiating with bandits to restore order.
Accprding to him, “it is outrageous that the governor of Zamfara State will seek cheap publicity by playing politics with the lives of the people at a time the state is under siege by armed bandits.
“The statement by Governor Lawal is the height of executive rascality and recklessness that have fueled and worsened insecurity in the state since he assumed office.
“The responsibility of any government is to serve the people, provide security and deliver dividends of democracy, not carnage, terrorism, insurgency, militancy, banditry and kidnapping for ransom as obtainable in Zamfara State today.
“It is unfortunate that the governor who ought to be the chief security officer of the state and work in synergy with the nation’s security agencies and stakeholders in the state to restore security and order will be the one to frustrate attempts to bring peace to Zamfara State by making a mockery of various efforts by the nation’s military personnel in collaboration with respected leaders to make Zamfara State safe again,” he said.
He accused the governor of being part of a peace dialogue held at Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of the state between the military, traditional rulers, Fulani leaders, community leaders, vigilante groups and bandit leaders, with a view to restoring peace in the state, where the governor was duly represented by his Commissioner for Supervision of Government Policies and Budget Implementation Unit, Nasiru Ibrahim Zurmi.
“There are pictures and video clips to attest to this crucial peace dialogue which if sustained would have restored the much desired security in the state.
“Today, there is a reign of terror in the state as if there is no government in place.
“Since he assumed office on 29th May 2023, there has been persistent kidnapping for ransom across the 14 Local Government Areas, displacement of innocent citizens from their ancestral homes, killings and bloodletting, cattle rustling and armed robberies on daily basis.
“More than 2000 people have been kidnapped, over 300 citizens murdered by bandits and several others in captivity in different bandits’ camps.
“Having failed woefully in his electoral promise to restore security and peace in the state, Governor Lawal takes pleasure in junketing out of the country claiming to go to attract foreign investors for the state, aware that there cannot be investment and development without peace,” Shinkafi stated,” he added.
