Banditry: Zamfara Govt To Reinstate Civilian JTF, Volunteer Group

The Zamfara Government is expected to reinstate the disbanded, Civilian Joint Taskforce (CJTF) and a volunteer security group, known as “Yansakai” to support security forces in the onslaught against criminals in the State.

Dr Abdullahi Shinkafi, Chairman of the Committee on Security and Prosecution of Armed Bandits in Zamfara, made this known in an interview with NAN on Tuesday in Gusau.

”The state government took the decision to sustain the gains being recorded in the ongoing offensive against banditry and kidnappings in the State.

”The government’s decision is coming with a new condition. Applicants are expected to present three sureties being reinstated,”

Shinkafi, who is also Honourary Special Adviser to Gov. Bello Matawalle on Intergovernmental Affairs said.

“The reinstatement of the CJTF is with a view to help security operatives in the frontline to sustain the effort to flush out all bandits and their collaborators,” he told NAN.

Shinkafi appealed to the people to sustain their support to fight crimes in the state.

”We must commend residents who had been patient, prayerful and supportive of the new security measures put in place by the state government to curtail banditry and kidnapping in the state.

”Security forces have so far recorded tremendous success in ongoing airstrike and land bombardment of the bandits camps and their collaborators in the state,” he said.

The adviser noted that the Federal government’s suspension of telecom activities in Zamfara and other security measures by the state government had impacted positively in the ongoing counter- banditry effort in Zamfara.

”The closure of cattle markets has shut out cattle rustlers as they do not have access to markets anymore,” he added.

Shinkafi praised Matawalle for the new security initiative of taking the fight to the bandits' camps.

He said that several bandits had been neutralized by the security forces as law and order is gradually returning to the state.

”The state government is being challenged by paucity of funds. We appeal for more support from spirited individuals and groups,” he said.

Matawalle disbanded the CJTF and the volunteer group shortly after he assumed office in 2019.

Matawalle alleged that some of them were responsible for the violent conflict between the Fulani and Hausa in Zamfara.

On September 2, the Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC) in a letter titled “Re: Shutdown of All Telecom Sites in Zamfara State” said the pervading security situation in Zamfara necessitated an immediate shut down of all telecom services in the state from September 3.

This, the NCC said, is to enable relevant security agencies to carry out required activities towards addressing the security challenges in the state.