The Zamfara government has reinstated the state’s disbanded Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and a volunteer security group, ‘Yansakai’, to battle bandits terrorising the state’s residents.

Abdullahi Shinkafi, the chairman of the Committee on Security and Prosecution of Armed Bandits in Zamfara, disclosed this 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,” said Mr Shinkafi. ”The government’s decision is coming with a new condition.”

Mr Shinkafi, also the special adviser to Governor Bello Matawalle on Intergovernmental Affairs, added, “The reinstatement of the CJTF is with a view to help security operatives in the frontline sustain the effort to flush out all bandits and their collaborators.”

He 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,” Mr Matawalle’s adviser added. “Security forces have so far recorded tremendous success in an ongoing airstrike and land bombardment of the bandits’ camps and their collaborators in the state.”

He further noted that the federal government’s suspension of telecom activities in Zamfara and other security measures by the state government had helped the counter-banditry fight.

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

Mr Matawalle disbanded the CJTF and the volunteer group shortly after assuming office in 2019, alleging they were responsible for the violent conflict between the Fulani and Hausa.

On September 2, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in a letter titled ‘Re: Shutdown of All Telecom Sites in Zamfara State’, said the worsening insecurity necessitated an immediate shutdown of telecom services in the state from September 3.

(NAN)