Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has declared that he possesses the capacity to eliminate banditry in the state within two months if granted direct authority over security agencies.
The governor, who became emotional and broke down in tears while recounting recent attacks in a viral video on Wednesday, lamented that the major obstacle to ending insecurity in Zamfara is the fact that security operatives still take directives from Abuja instead of the state government.
Lawal insisted that his familiarity with the terrain and knowledge of criminal hideouts would enable him to swiftly bring an end to the menace if he had the constitutional powers.
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“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,” he said.
He narrated a recent incident in Shinkafi Local Government Area where dozens of people were killed, explaining that security operatives on the ground refused to act 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?” the governor added in frustration.
Despite these limitations, Lawal noted that his administration has continued to provide support for security agencies through logistics and funding.
According to him, 150 patrol vehicles have been distributed to the police, military, Department of State Services, and civil defence, while thousands of Community Protection Guards, alongside more than 2,000 hunters from Borno and Yobe States, have been recruited to strengthen the fight against banditry.
The governor also emphasised the need to address underlying causes of violence in rural communities.
“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.
He accused some political opponents of exploiting the crisis for selfish interests, stressing that their actions undermine the wellbeing 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,” Lawal stated.
The governor pointed to the heavy deployment of security personnel during a recent by-election in the state as proof that resources exist but are often prioritised for politics rather than protecting citizens.
While Boko Haram and ISWAP have plagued the North-East for over a decade—claiming more than 35,000 lives and displacing over two million people—the North-West has suffered a separate wave of violence.
In Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Sokoto States, criminal gangs initially rooted in cattle rustling have evolved into heavily armed groups carrying out mass abductions and rural attacks.
Zamfara has been one of the states worst affected by banditry, with armed groups consistently raiding communities, displacing residents, and forcing farmers to abandon their farmlands out of fear of attacks.
In February 2021, nearly 300 schoolgirls were kidnapped from Jangebe in Zamfara, while in December 2020, more than 300 schoolboys were abducted in neighbouring Katsina State—incidents that drew global attention to Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.
Governor Lawal’s remarks come as President Bola Tinubu and the National Economic Council are considering the creation of state police, a reform long demanded by governors in violence-hit states.
His statements highlight the frustrations of state leaders who face mounting pressure from citizens but lack constitutional control over security agencies.
For residents of Zamfara, where farming and community life are being disrupted by armed groups, the governor’s claim that he could end banditry within two months if empowered offers both hope and a stark reminder of the limitations of Nigeria’s centralised security system.
Since assuming office in May 2023, Governor Lawal has consistently called for the establishment of state police, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s recent endorsement of the idea.
Advocates argue that state police would allow governors to directly manage their security challenges, while critics caution that such a system could be misused for political purposes.
