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 agencies operating in the region.
In a viral video that captured the governor fighting back tears, Lawal recounted a series of deadly attacks in Zamfara and expressed frustration over the limitations imposed by Nigeria’s centralized security structure.
“I know where every major bandit leader in Zamfara is hiding, I could point to their locations with my phone. But I don’t have control over the security agencies, and that’s the real challenge,” he said.
Lawal revealed that in a recent attack in Shinkafi Local Government Area, dozens were killed, yet local security forces refused to act because they were awaiting clearance from Abuja.
“People were being slaughtered, and I kept calling the security agencies. They told me they needed authorization from the capital. How am I supposed to protect my people under such conditions?” he lamented.
Despite the structural constraints, the governor said his administration continues to provide substantial support to federal security operatives, including the supply of 150 patrol vehicles, logistics and operational funding.
He also highlighted the recruitment of thousands of Community Protection Guards and over 2,000 hunters from Borno and Yobe states, all of whom are contributing to the fight against rural violence.
Lawal emphasized that tackling insecurity also requires addressing poverty and underdevelopment in rural areas.
“We are sinking boreholes, building schools, and improving access to social amenities because we understand that peace is more sustainable when people live well,” he noted.
The governor also criticized political opponents, accusing some of leveraging the security crisis for selfish political gain.
“This isn’t just about politics, it’s about human lives. Politicizing insecurity is harming the people of Zamfara, not me. Some people don’t want us to succeed, but I won’t stop fighting for my people,” he said.
Lawal further questioned the federal government’s priorities, pointing to the heavy deployment of security forces during a recent by-election in the state as evidence that resources are available but often diverted for political purposes rather than public safety.
Zamfara is one of the states hardest hit by banditry in Nigeria’s North-West. Armed groups, many of which evolved from cattle-rustling gangs, have carried out mass kidnappings, extortion, and deadly attacks on rural communities.
Notable incidents include the February 2021 abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls in Jangebe, and the December 2020 kidnapping of over 300 boys in Katsina.
These incidents drew international attention to the escalating crisis.
While terror groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP have plagued the North-East for over a decade, resulting in more than 35,000 deaths and the displacement of over 2 million people, the violence in the North-West is increasingly complex and deadly.
Governor Lawal’s passionate remarks come amid renewed discussions about the establishment of state police, a reform that President Bola Tinubu and the National Economic Council are reportedly considering.
Lawal is among the governors who have consistently advocated for state policing, arguing that decentralizing security control would allow local leaders to respond more swiftly and effectively to threats.
While supporters see state police as a necessary tool for tackling local insecurity, critics warn of potential abuse by state governments for political ends.
