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 forces.
In a viral video shared on Wednesday, the governor broke down while recounting recent attacks, saying the main obstacle to ending the crisis is that security operatives in Zamfara continue to 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,” Lawal lamented.
He cited a recent attack in Shinkafi Local Government where dozens were killed, noting that security forces on the ground refused to respond because they were awaiting 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 asked.
Despite these limitations, Lawal said his administration has provided logistics and funding to support security operations, including distributing 150 patrol vehicles to the police, military, Department of State Services, and civil defence. Thousands of Community Protection Guards and over 2,000 hunters from Borno and Yobe States have also been recruited to assist in the fight.
He emphasised the need to tackle the root causes of rural 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 the insecurity crisis for personal gain, warning that such actions are harming 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 also pointed to the heavy security deployment during a recent by-election as evidence that resources exist but are often prioritised for political events rather than protecting lives.
While Boko Haram and ISWAP have terrorised the North-East for over a decade, the North-West faces a separate but equally devastating wave of violence. In Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Sokoto, armed groups initially rooted in cattle-rustling have evolved into heavily armed networks carrying out mass abductions and raids on rural communities.
Zamfara has been particularly hard-hit, with villages emptied, farmers abandoning their fields, and communities living in constant fear. High-profile incidents include the abduction of around 300 schoolgirls in Jangebe in February 2021 and over 300 schoolboys in Katsina in December 2020, drawing global attention to Nigeria’s growing insecurity.
Lawal’s remarks come as President Bola Tinubu and the National Economic Council consider establishing state police—a reform long advocated by governors in violence-affected states. His statements highlight the frustration of state leaders who face mounting pressure from citizens but lack authority over security forces.
For Zamfara residents, the governor’s claim that he could end banditry in two months if empowered offers both hope and a stark reminder of the constraints of Nigeria’s centralised security system. Since taking office in May 2023, Lawal has repeatedly called for the creation of state police, echoing President Tinubu’s recent support for the initiative. Proponents argue that localised policing would allow states to respond more effectively to security challenges, while critics warn of potential political misuse.