Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has declared that banditry would become history within his state if he were granted control over the national security outfits operating there, stating he is aware of the movements of every bandit kingpin.
In a viral video clip, the governor explained that his principal constraint in the fight against banditry is the absence of direct command over security agencies. He emphasised that the security chiefs in Zamfara only take orders from Abuja.
“We have dozens of tracking facilities which we fixed across the state just to help security in tracking the bandits,” Lawal said. “I swear to Almighty Allah, wherever a bandits’ leader is located within Zamfara state, I know it and if he goes out, I know. With my mobile phone, I can show you where and where these bandits are today. But we cannot do anything beyond our powers.”
The governor expressed deep frustration over the gap between his intelligence and his ability to act, stating that this powerlessness directly impacts the safety of Zamfara’s citizens. “If today, I have the power to give orders to the security agencies, I can assure you, we will end banditry in Zamfara state within two months,” he vowed.
He recounted a specific incident to illustrate the operational paralysis, lamenting the delayed response to crises. “Most of the time, I shed tears for my people because I can see a problem but because I don’t have control over the security agencies, I cannot order the security operatives to act in time. There was a time, the bandits invaded Shinkafi local government and I was sitting here when the security operatives were alerted but they refused to go to Shinkafi simply because they were not given orders from Abuja. This is the problem we are facing but we entrusted God and surely, He will come to our rescue.”
Despite these challenges, Governor Lawal affirmed that his administration continues to offer substantial support to the federal security agencies. He pointed to verifiable records of logistical and financial backing, including the recent distribution of a significant fleet of vehicles. “About two months ago, the Zamfara state government distributed 150 patrol vehicles to the security agencies including police, army, DSS and civil defense with a view to improving their jobs,” he said.
Beyond supporting federal forces, the state government has pursued its own security initiatives. Lawal detailed the recruitment of thousands of personnel into the state’s Community Protection Guards (CPG) and the hiring of additional expertise from other regions. “My administration had also hired over 2,000 local hunters from Borno and Yobe and brought them into Zamfara to complement the conventional security operatives fighting banditry in the state,” he explained.
He reiterated that these measures are undertaken despite his constitutional limitations, driven by his duty as the state’s chief security officer. “I am doing all these despite the fact that I have no control over the security agencies. But because it’s my responsibility to protect the lives and properties of the people of Zamfara.”
In a striking offer, the governor said he was willing to address any legitimate grievances held by the bandits to achieve peace. “I have said it on several occasions that if the bandits are fighting because they lack some basic needs, I will provide them with whatever they lacked; if they are lacking water I will provide them with water, if they are lacking schools, I will build schools for them just to have peace in the state.”
He appealed for patience from the people of Zamfara and issued a warning against the politicisation of the security crisis. “I want to remind those undermining our efforts in the fight against banditry that their actions are destroying the state, not Dauda Lawal as governor.”
Discussion about this post