Shinkafi reacts to Matawalle’s role in banditry crackdown

The Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development has lauded the recent military operations in Nigeria’s North West region, specifically the efforts by the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, to combat armed banditry.

The group praised the intensified action as a significant step toward restoring peace, claiming the notorious bandits are now facing the most effective military pushback in recent history.

In the past three weeks, President Bola Tinubu directed Matawalle, alongside the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and top military officers, to relocate to Sokoto for a second time to oversee operations.

According to the group’s executive director, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, this directive has neutralised key bandits in Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, and Kaduna States.

“For the first time in over a decade, bandits are in disarray, their numbers dwindling under coordinated military pressure,” said Shinkafi.

Dr Matawalle’s strategy includes visits to critical hotspots, including Sabon Birnin, Goronyo, and Isa Local Government Areas close to Zamfara’s troubled zones and border areas where bandits frequently smuggle arms.

Shinkafi commended Matawalle’s resolve, stating that notorious figures like Bello Turji now have “no option but to surrender or face the consequences” following the death of Turji’s mentor, Habibu Sububu.

The group also called on politicians, clerics, and local leaders to refrain from distracting or undermining the military’s work.

“Security should be prioritised above mundane politics,” Shinkafi stressed, adding that any interference risks prolonging banditry in the region.

The statement urged citizens to support the armed forces: “Those on the frontlines deserve our prayers and support, not baseless attacks.”

The ongoing operations represent a key part of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to bring lasting security to Nigeria.

The Patriots expressed confidence in Matawalle’s leadership, hailing his efforts as a testament to the administration’s commitment to end violence and restore public safety.