Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has declared that he could eliminate banditry in the state within two months if granted authority over security agencies.
In a viral video, Lawal stated that he knows the exact locations of bandit leaders and their hideouts but cannot act because security operatives in Zamfara only take directives from Abuja.
“I swear to Almighty Allah, wherever a bandit leader is in Zamfara State, I know it. If he moves, I know. With my phone, I can show you where they are today. But we cannot do anything beyond our powers,” he said.
The governor became visibly emotional as he described how communities continue to suffer repeated attacks while security agencies delay action, waiting for federal clearance. He cited an incident in Shinkafi Local Government Area where troops failed to respond to an attack because they lacked approval from Abuja.
“If today I have the power to give orders to the security agencies, I can assure you, we will end banditry in Zamfara within two months. Most of the time I shed tears for my people because I see the problem but cannot command the security men to act in time,” he lamented.
Lawal noted that despite lacking direct control, his administration has provided significant support for security operations. This includes the distribution of 150 patrol vehicles to the Police, Army, DSS, and Civil Defence, as well as the recruitment of thousands of Community Protection Guards and 2,000 hunters from Borno and Yobe states.
“The politicisation of insecurity is not hurting me as a person; it is destroying Zamfara. Some people do not want us to succeed. But I will not stop trying,” he stressed.
Zamfara has endured one of the most severe banditry crises in northern Nigeria, marked by mass kidnappings, killings, and the displacement of entire villages. Protests have erupted in the state capital, Gusau, with residents accusing leaders of failing to safeguard lives and property.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has hinted at the possible creation of state police as part of broader security reforms, alongside deploying drones and forest guards to v
olatile regions.
Comments