Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has made a bold claim that he could eliminate banditry in his state within two months if granted direct control over security agencies, revealing that he knows the exact locations of terrorist and bandit leaders operating in the area.
The governor expressed frustration over his inability to act on this intelligence due to the centralized command structure of Nigeria’s security apparatus, which requires authorization from Abuja before deploying forces.
In an emotional moment that was captured in a viral video on Wednesday, Governor Lawal broke down in tears while recounting recent attacks on his state, particularly criticizing the delayed response during a recent assault on Shinkafi Local Government Area.
“I can tell you the whereabouts of every bandit kingpin in Zamfara, even with my phone. I can point to you where they are right now. But I do not control security agencies, and that is the problem,” Lawal stated during the emotional address.
The governor described a frustrating scenario where local security forces remained inactive during active attacks because they were waiting for orders from the federal capital. “People were under attack, and I kept calling the security agencies. They told me they were waiting for orders from Abuja. How do I save my people in such a situation?” he lamented.
Lawal argued that his intimate knowledge of the terrain and criminal hideouts, combined with direct command authority, would enable him to swiftly neutralize the bandit threat that has plagued Zamfara for years.
Despite these operational constraints, the governor revealed that his administration has invested heavily in supporting security operations. He disclosed that 150 patrol vehicles have been distributed among the police, military, Department of State Services, and civil defense corps.
Additionally, the state government has recruited thousands of Community Protection Guards and brought in over 2,000 hunters from neighboring Borno and Yobe states to bolster local security efforts.
The governor also emphasized his administration’s focus on addressing root causes of insecurity through development initiatives. “We are working to provide water, schools and other amenities because we know that when people live well, peace is easier to achieve,” he explained.
Addressing what he termed the “politicization of insecurity,” Governor Lawal expressed concern that political interference was undermining security efforts in the state. “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 declared.
Zamfara has been one of the worst-affected states in Nigeria’s ongoing battle with banditry, with criminal groups regularly conducting kidnappings, cattle rustling, and village raids that have displaced thousands of residents and crippled economic activities in rural areas.
