By Abdullahi Alhassan
A chieftain of the APC and security analyst, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has warned that Zamfara State is sending out a “serious danger signal” following the attack on the Deputy Governor’s convoy in Bukkuyum Local Government Area, saying the incident reflects growing public frustration with banditry and government inaction.
Dr. Shinkafi, who is also a senatorial aspirant, said in an interview in Kaduna that the fact that villagers could block all entry and exit points and still confront the Deputy Governor despite heavy security shows how bad the situation has become.
“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.”
‘Every Road in Zamfara is a Death Trap’
The security expert linked the Bukkuyum incident to a wider collapse of security across the state. He said over 10 security personnel were killed a few days earlier by bandits while escorting travelers to a market.
According to him, no part of Zamfara is safe at the moment. “Zamfara, all the 14 local government areas are under siege,” he stated. “If you are a motorist traveling 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.
“From Shinkafi to Sokoto, Isa road, Shinkafi to Boko. From Gusau to Marafa, Marafa to Sokoto. Nahuche to Mayanchi, Anka, Gummi, Bagega, Bukkuyum. All these places are under siege.”
Gusau Described as ‘Supermarket for Bandits’
Dr. Shinkafi painted a grim picture of life in the state capital, saying residents now live in fear. “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 accused government at all levels of failing to match budgetary provisions for security with 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.”
No More Negotiations, Use Total Military Force
On the way forward, Dr. Shinkafi said government must combine military action with socio-economic interventions. “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.
“But we must also address the root causes unemployment, poverty, drug abuse, weak judicial system, weak infrastructure, proliferation of small arms, and even climate change.”
Direct Appeal to Tinubu and Zamfara Governor
The APC chieftain called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently deploy more troops to the state and urged the Zamfara State Governor to return home.
“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 warned that the ruling party could pay dearly at the polls in 2027 if insecurity is not tackled. “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.”
The attack on the Deputy Governor’s convoy in Bukkuyum is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have heightened fears ahead of the 2027 general elections, with many residents accusing authorities of abandoning rural communities.
Government officials have insisted that normalcy is returning to some parts of Zamfara and that more resources are being committed to security. Dr. Shinkafi, however, dismissed the claim, saying “the situation on the ground tells a different story.”