Governor Lawal says he can end banditry in Zamfara within two months if given control over security agencies, citing deep knowledge of criminal networks
Governor Lawal banditry Zamfara remarks have sparked national attention after the visibly emotional leader declared he could eliminate banditry in the state within two months—if only he had control over security agencies.
Also read: Zamfara bandits kill operatives near Shinkafi in bloody ambush
In a viral video, Governor Dauda Lawal tearfully recounted ongoing attacks in rural areas, accusing federal authorities of tying his hands by centralising security control in Abuja.
“I can tell you the whereabouts of every bandit kingpin in Zamfara, even with my phone,” he said.
“But I do not control the security agencies, and that is the problem.”
Lawal lamented that during a recent attack in Shinkafi Local Government Area, dozens were killed while security operatives refused to act because they lacked clearance from Abuja.
“People were under attack, and I kept calling. They told me they were waiting for orders. How do I save my people in such a situation?” he asked, visibly frustrated.
Despite his lack of command over armed forces, the governor said his administration has donated 150 patrol vehicles, recruited thousands of Community Protection Guards, and brought in over 2,000 hunters from Borno and Yobe to help fight the escalating rural violence.
Governor Lawal also highlighted the socioeconomic roots of insecurity.
He said his government is investing in education, water supply, and healthcare, aiming to improve quality of life in rural areas where violence thrives.
He warned political opponents against weaponising insecurity for personal or partisan gains.
“The politicisation of insecurity is not hurting me as a person—it is destroying Zamfara,” he said.
Lawal’s outcry aligns with renewed calls for state police, a reform supported by President Bola Tinubu and several governors.
Proponents believe decentralising Nigeria’s security system would empower states to respond swiftly and locally to threats.
Zamfara, one of the worst-hit states in the North-West, has been plagued by mass abductions, rural raids, and displacement of farming communities.
In 2021, over 300 schoolgirls were abducted in Jangebe, drawing global attention to the crisis.
Governor Lawal’s bold claim—that he could end banditry in two months if empowered—has stirred hope among residents and sparked debate nationwide.
But it also serves as a powerful indictment of Nigeria’s heavily centralised security structure, where governors are expected to secure lives without direct control of the tools to do so.
Also read: Zamfara cholera outbreak triggers urgent MSF intervention
As rural communities in Zamfara continue to suffer, Lawal’s statement is more than political rhetoric—it’s a desperate call for a structural shift.
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