A prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart in Zamfara State, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has declared that only President Bola Tinubu has the capacity to resolve the persistent insecurity plaguing the state, asserting that Governor Dauda Lawal lacks the constitutional powers to effectively tackle the crisis.
Shinkafi made this statement during a press briefing at his residence in Gusau on Tuesday night, responding to the recent killing of 38 residents of Banga community in Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area who had been held captive by bandits for five months.
The APC chieftain made an urgent appeal to President Tinubu to intervene in the escalating security situation, emphasizing that Zamfara residents are under siege and facing daily attacks from bandits.
"President Tinubu is the only one who can bring this carnage to an end. As Commander-in-Chief, he has the constitutional authority to direct security chiefs to deploy more troops and sophisticated arms to crush the terrorists," Shinkafi stated.
The APC stalwart further alleged that some politicians in the state were politicizing the security crisis and unfairly criticizing Governor Lawal without acknowledging the constitutional limitations faced by state governors in security matters.
"Governor Lawal is the Chief Security Officer in name only. He has made several efforts — visiting Abuja, meeting the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, the NSA, and even President Tinubu himself — but nothing tangible has come out of it. Without federal backing, there's little he can do," Shinkafi explained.
The appeal comes amid growing concerns about the deteriorating security situation in Zamfara, which has seen numerous communities affected by banditry and kidnapping incidents in recent months.
Security experts have previously highlighted the need for a coordinated approach between federal and state authorities to effectively combat the insecurity challenges facing the northwestern state.
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