President Tinubu and Governor Dauda Lawal in a meeting on Thursday, April 23, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to address what has become a “siege” on several Zamfara communities.
​The meeting was a direct response to a deteriorating security situation in the North-West. President Tinubu pledged the immediate deployment of additional troops and advanced operational equipment to Zamfara to help stabilize volatile areas.
The focus is on intensifying operations against the fragmented bandit groups that have been terrorizing rural local government areas (LGAs) like Anka, Bukkuyum, and Talata Mafara.
Beyond the military response, the President and Governor discussed leveraging federal resources to stimulate local industries and create jobs, aiming to tackle the poverty that often fuels recruitment into armed groups.
​The pledge comes at a critical time. In the first two weeks of April alone, Over 30 people were killed and more than 200 residents abducted in coordinated attacks across seven LGAs.
Security reports indicate that bandits have begun using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on major transport routes, such as the Anka–Gurusu and Mayanchi–Talata Mafara roads, marking a dangerous shift toward more sophisticated warfare.
Hundreds of farmers have been forced to abandon their lands, raising serious concerns about food security in the region for the coming year.
​Despite the surge in attacks, there have been some major breakthroughs by security forces this April, the state government commended security forces for an operation that reportedly killed approximately 100 bandits.
The Community Protection Guard (CPG) recently intercepted a shipment of 98 landmines and arrested suspects accused of buying gold from bandit groups.
While the killing of notorious warlords like Halilu Sububu in the past has helped, it also led to the fragmentation of bandit groups into smaller, more unpredictable factions. This new pledge from the Presidency for “additional equipment” is likely aimed at providing the surveillance and air support needed to track these smaller, mobile cells that are currently bypassing traditional military checkpoints.
