Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has declared that he has the capacity to eliminate banditry in the state within two months if he is granted direct control of security agencies.
The governor, who grew emotional in a viral video shared on Wednesday, lamented that the current system, where security operatives in Zamfara take orders from Abuja, has left him powerless despite knowing the exact locations of bandit leaders.
“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 said.
He cited a recent attack in Shinkafi Local Government where dozens of residents were killed. Despite his calls for urgent intervention, security forces on the ground reportedly refused to act without clearance 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?” the governor lamented.
Governor Lawal explained that although his administration does not control security agencies, it has provided significant support. According to him, 150 patrol vehicles were distributed among the police, army, Department of State Services, and civil defence. He also confirmed the recruitment of thousands of Community Protection Guards and over 2,000 hunters from Borno and Yobe States to bolster the fight against bandits.
Beyond security operations, the governor said efforts are being made to tackle root causes of rural violence through development projects.
“We are working to provide water, schools and other amenities because we know that when people live well, peace is easier to achieve,” he stated.
Lawal also accused political opponents of exploiting the insecurity crisis for selfish ends.
“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 added.
Zamfara has been one of the hardest-hit states in Nigeria’s North-West, where armed groups—initially rooted in cattle rustling—have evolved into heavily armed networks carrying out mass kidnappings, killings, and rural raids. Many residents have fled their villages, while farming activities have been crippled by fear of attacks.
The state has witnessed several high-profile abductions, including the kidnapping of about 300 schoolgirls in Jangebe in February 2021. A few months earlier, more than 300 schoolboys were abducted in neighbouring Katsina, incidents that drew global attention to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
Lawal pointed to the heavy security deployment during a recent by-election in the state as evidence that resources are available but often prioritised for politics rather than protecting lives.
His outcry comes as President Bola Tinubu and the National Economic Council consider the creation of state police as part of wider reforms to address insecurity. Lawal has consistently advocated for such reforms since taking office in May 2023.
Proponents of state police argue that it would empower governors to respond directly to security challenges in their states. Critics, however, caution that such powers could be misused for political purposes.
