Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State says his administration is working to improve the response time of security agencies to attacks, particularly in communities facing persistent banditry and difficult terrain.

Lawal made the disclosure on Monday during a media chat while discussing the security situation in the state, identifying Tsafe Local Government Area as one of the areas facing serious security challenges.

He said poor road access, particularly along the Tsafe-Yankuzo axis, has made it difficult for security personnel to reach affected communities quickly when attacks occur.

According to the governor, improving access to the area is therefore a key part of the state government’s efforts to strengthen the security response.

“That road from Tsafe to Yankuzo is a troublesome area. Whenever there’s any attack, it is very, very difficult for the security to be there within a time frame, and we feel that that road should be constructed,” Lawal said.

He added that reconstructing the road would enable security personnel to reach affected locations faster, particularly when immediate intervention is required.

On Sunday, Lawal flagged off the construction of a 95-kilometre road linking several farming communities to Tsafe. The route will pass through Yandoton Daji, Cediya, Doka, Yan Waren Daji, Hayin Alhaji Bedi, Unguwar Joji and Yankuzo to Tsafe, with five bridges planned along the route.

The project is divided into two phases, with the first 47-kilometre section awarded to SKY Construction Company and the remaining 48 kilometres awarded to Setraco Construction Company Limited.

Lawal said the road was being prioritised not only for economic reasons but also because of its security implications, arguing that better access would improve the mobility and operational capacity of security agencies.

“Reconstructing this road will enhance the movement of goods and the mobility of security agencies, thereby improving operational capacity and response to threats or attacks,” he said.

The governor also disclosed that his administration was deploying technology, including drones, to monitor hard-to-reach areas and provide security agencies with information that could assist their response.

He said the use of drones was particularly important during the rainy season, when some communities and locations become difficult to access by road.

“There may be some pockets of attack in some of the ungoverned areas, and of course, like now, it’s rainy season. Getting to some of those locations is extremely difficult, and that is why we employ the use of technology, like all these drones,” Lawal said.

Lawal acknowledged that attacks had not completely stopped but maintained that the frequency of killings had reduced compared with previous years. He said the government was using available data to assess the security situation and identify areas requiring stronger intervention.

He specifically identified Tsafe as a critical security area, citing the activities of suspected bandit leader Ado Alero and his gang.

The governor’s comments come amid continuing security challenges in Zamfara, where attacks, abductions and violence have affected communities and major transport routes.

In September, troops rescued 41 travellers who had been abducted after their commercial bus broke down along the Tsafe-Funtua Road, highlighting the difficulties security agencies face in responding to incidents along major routes.

The state government has also previously called for stronger intelligence gathering, coordinated operations and improved security cooperation among agencies. In August, Lawal told a Northwest security summit hosted in Zamfara that criminal networks operating across state boundaries required real-time intelligence sharing, coordinated operations and stronger surveillance.

Lawal said the combination of improved road infrastructure and technology would help address some of the operational difficulties confronting security agencies and enable faster intervention when attacks occur.