Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has stated that he has the ability to bring an end to banditry within two months, provided he is granted direct authority over security agencies.
The governor made this declaration during a live media chat with local radio stations at the Government House in Gusau. He lamented that the greatest setback in addressing insecurity in Zamfara is that security operatives continue to receive directives from Abuja rather than from 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 explained.
Governor Lawal referred to a recent attack in Shinkafi Local Government Area, where several lives were lost. He claimed that despite the presence of security operatives, no action was taken because they were waiting for clearance from Abuja.
He added that despite this limitation, his administration has continued to provide support to security agencies in terms of funding and logistics to aid their operations.
Meanwhile, the Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted the governor’s remarks, accusing him of failing to live up to his campaign promise of ending insecurity within two months of assuming office.
In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris, the APC alleged that Governor Lawal’s constant claims of knowing the locations of bandit leaders without taking any decisive steps indicated possible complicity.
“We don’t know why he is harbouring them in the state and continues to allow them to kill and abduct innocent citizens, or perhaps because he wants to use them against his political rivals,” the APC alleged.
The opposition further criticised the governor for politicising insecurity, insisting that despite his claims of supporting security operatives, his efforts have been inadequate.
“While boasting that he bought and distributed 150 vehicles to security agencies, he failed to say that they were given not as operational vehicles but as mobility cars, without support for fueling and maintenance. In contrast, former Governor Bello Matawalle distributed 200 fully equipped operational vehicles with allowances for logistics,” the APC maintained.
The party also challenged Governor Lawal to reflect on his campaign pledges, stressing that his recent comments only confirm his failure to protect citizens.
“Let him concentrate on delivering his campaign promises of ending banditry in two months and stop apportioning blame. Now is the time for action, not media propaganda,” the APC said.
What You Should Know
Governor Dauda Lawal has repeatedly emphasized that he has intelligence on the whereabouts of Zamfara’s bandit leaders but insists that the lack of control over security agencies limits his actions.
His remarks have drawn sharp criticism from the opposition APC, which accuses him of complicity and failure to meet his campaign promises.
