APC Chieftain urges security agencies to investigate attempt on his life

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC),  Dr Sani Shinkafi, has appealed to the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to investigate an attempt on his life in Abuja.

Shinkafi, who serves as the executive director of the Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development, made the appeal in a statement on Saturday.

The former governorship candidate in Zamfara State called on security agencies to ensure that those behind the assassination attempt are apprehended and prosecuted.

Narrating his ordeal on Friday, Shinkafi said his car was attacked by armed men. He recalled that earlier in the week, his Abuja residence had received several suspicious phone calls.

He noted that this was not the first attack he had faced, which he believes is due to his “bold, principled, courageous, and patriotic views on crucial national issues” concerning security, peace, unity, and social development.

“My life was threatened on Friday when some persons dressed in black, wearing masks and carrying big guns, blocked and attacked my car after Friday Mosque prayers in Abuja and then zoomed off,” he said.

“I appeal to the Inspector General of Police and Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to thoroughly investigate this unprovoked attempt on my life to unravel those behind it and their sponsors to face justice.”

Shinkafi stated that the attack was a violation of his fundamental rights as enshrined in Chapter IV of the Nigerian Constitution, including the right to life, dignity, personal liberty, privacy, and freedom of expression.

He believes the attack may be connected to his public views on national security, particularly in Zamfara State. He recalled urging families of kidnapping victims not to pay ransoms, as he believes the funds are used by bandits to acquire more sophisticated weapons.

He also previously called on the military to intensify operations to flush out criminal elements in the North-West and the entire nation, stating that addressing insecurity would help secure President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

“As a patriotic citizen and democrat, I have been promoting peace, social development, and national security, which are essential to sustainable democracy and prosperity,” he said. “It is obvious that my views may not be in consonance with those who prioritize personal interests above national interests.”

Having served as the Chairman of the Zamfara State Committee for the Prosecution of Bandits and Related Offences, Shinkafi said he is in a position to address critical national matters objectively.

He urged Nigerians to set aside “parochial partisan politics” in the national interest, adding, “Nigeria is the only country we have; we must join hands to make it great again in the spirit of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”