Zamfara Governor Claims He Can End Banditry In Two Months If Given Control Of Security Agencies

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has declared that he could eliminate banditry in the state within two months if granted direct control over security agencies.

In a video that went viral on Wednesday, Lawal broke down while recounting recent attacks, lamenting that security forces in Zamfara still take orders from Abuja rather than the state government.

“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,” the governor said.

He cited a recent attack in Shinkafi Local Government where dozens were killed, claiming that security operatives on the ground refused to intervene because they lacked authorisation from Abuja. “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 added.

Despite these limitations, Lawal said his administration has provided significant support to security operations, including distributing 150 patrol vehicles to the police, military, Department of State Services, and civil defence, and recruiting thousands of Community Protection Guards alongside over 2,000 hunters from Borno and Yobe States.

The governor also emphasised the need to tackle the root causes of violence, saying, “We are working to provide water, schools and other amenities because we know that when people live well, peace is easier to achieve.”

Lawal accused political opponents of exploiting insecurity for personal gain, warning that such actions harm the welfare of Zamfara residents. “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 said.

He pointed to the heavy security deployment during a recent state by-election as evidence that resources exist but are often prioritised for political purposes rather than protecting lives.

While Boko Haram and its splinter group ISWAP have terrorised the North-East for over a decade, claiming more than 35,000 lives and displacing over two million people, the North-West faces a different wave of violence. In Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Sokoto, armed groups originally involved in cattle-rustling have grown into heavily armed networks carrying out mass abductions and rural raids.

Zamfara has been among the hardest-hit states, with communities abandoned, farms deserted, and residents living in fear. Notable incidents include the February 2021 abduction of about 300 schoolgirls in Jangebe, Zamfara, and the December 2020 kidnapping of over 300 schoolboys in neighbouring Katsina.

Lawal’s plea comes as President Bola Tinubu and the National Economic Council consider establishing state police, a reform long demanded by governors in violence-plagued states. His comments highlight the frustrations of state leaders who face mounting pressure from citizens but lack authority over the security apparatus.

Since taking office in May 2023, Governor Lawal has repeatedly called for state police, echoing President Tinubu’s recent endorsement. Proponents argue that local forces would allow states to take direct responsibility for security, while critics warn of potential political misuse.