Sani Shinkafi, a former Chairman of the Committee on Prosecution of Bandits Related Offences, has urged the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to cease posting corps members to states facing severe bandit attacks. This recommendation comes after the recent abduction of eight NYSC members in Zamfara State, where the kidnappers demanded a N4 million ransom for one of the victims.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Shinkafi specifically mentioned Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara as states where he believes NYSC postings should be halted. He criticized Governor Dauda Lawal’s reluctance to engage in peace dialogues with repentant bandits, contrasting it with the previous administration of Bello Matawalle, which successfully negotiated with terrorists to secure the release of abductees in Zamfara.
Shinkafi emphasized the need for effective communication with repentant bandits to aid in rescue operations and avoid paying ransoms. He also highlighted the security challenges in Zamfara, where over 2,000 people have been killed or kidnapped, and he expressed concerns about the safety of the entire region.
Governor Dauda Lawal, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), won the March 18 governorship election, defeating Bello Matawalle, who has since been appointed as the Minister of State for Defence by President Bola Tinubu.
