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.

The Defence Headquarters has stated that the Nigerian Armed Forces will continue to operate under its existing Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS), despite a recent court ruling nullifying a key provision of the document.

On Tuesday, the National Industrial Court in Abuja declared the mandatory 15-year minimum service period before resignation or retirement as unconstitutional, ruling that it violates the fundamental rights guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.

The judgment was delivered by Justice Emmanuel Subilim in a suit filed by Flight Lieutenant J. A. Akerele, who accused the Nigerian Air Force of victimisation after he attempted to resign.

Akerele, commissioned in 2013, told the court that his career had been derailed by repeated disruptions, demotions, and lack of promotion, which left him emotionally and professionally distressed.

The court described the military’s resignation restriction as “modern-day slavery under the guise of national service,” and affirmed that no personnel can be compelled to remain in service against their will.

However, speaking in Abuja on Thursday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, insisted the military would maintain its current terms of service until they are formally reviewed.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria has a document which governs our terms and conditions of service. Everything concerning disengagement is clearly spelt out. Unless those terms are amended officially, we will abide by the existing document,” Kangye said.

He explained that personnel enter the military through various routes, each with specific service obligations.

These include Recruitment Depots for soldiers, Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) for regular combatant cadets and Short Service Commission and Direct Short Service Commission for graduates and professionals such as doctors, lawyers and accountants.

Kangye noted that regardless of entry point, each category is bound by its respective terms from enlistment to disengagement.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday issued a stern warning to retired military personnel staging protests at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, urging them to vacate the premises immediately.

The protesting ex-soldiers resumed demonstrations this week, accusing the government of reneging on promises made during an August 4 meeting with officials from the Ministries of Defence and Finance.

According to the veterans, authorities had pledged to clear their outstanding entitlements by August 10, a deadline that has since passed without action.

Addressing the press in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, explained that the dispute arose from the application of two salary charts in 2024 following the implementation of the new national minimum wage.

“Gratuities and debarment allowances are calculated based on the salary chart active at the time of retirement,” Kangye said.

“Those who retired before July 29, 2024, are covered by the old salary structure. The new chart applies only to personnel who left service from that date onward.”

He added that some of the protesting retirees are demanding their benefits be recalculated using the new wage structure, a request the military says is not legally or administratively feasible.

While acknowledging the veterans’ right to peaceful protest, Kangye condemned their continued blockade of the Ministry of Finance, warning that such actions hinder government operations.

“The Defence Headquarters urges the protesting retirees to act responsibly and leave the premises to allow government activities to continue unhindered,” he stated.

Despite the military’s stance, the protesting veterans insist they are being unfairly treated.

Retired Sergeant Henry Ochade claimed he is still owed N900,000 in unpaid benefits.

Sergeant Igweze Ushanna (retd.) complained about unresolved salary arrears and unpaid relocation packages.

Sergeant Obinna Onyami (retd.) criticized the official relocation allowance, saying, “They gave us N77,000 to move a family from Lagos to the East, it’s ridiculous. A sergeant should receive over N400,000.”

The retirees have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to personally intervene in the matter, arguing that their years of service and sacrifice deserve recognition, not neglect.

This is the third time in recent months that retired soldiers have taken to the streets to demand payment of their benefits, a reflection of growing frustration within the veteran community.