…Lawal Blames Abuja for Rising Attacks
…Zamfara APC Chides Lawal Over Comments
…Tinubu’s Push for State Police Splits Opinion
By Yinka Giwa
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has declared that he could wipe out banditry in the state within two months if granted direct control of security agencies.
Lawal, who broke down in tears in a viral video on Wednesday while recounting recent attacks, lamented that his biggest obstacle is that security operatives in Zamfara still take instructions 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,” he said.
The governor cited a recent massacre in Shinkafi Local Government, where dozens were killed, as evidence of this disconnect. “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 in frustration.
Despite lacking direct authority, Lawal noted that his administration has been supporting security operatives with logistics and funding. He said 150 patrol vehicles had been distributed to the police, military, Department of State Services, and civil defence, while thousands of Community Protection Guards and over 2,000 hunters from Borno and Yobe States had been mobilised to join the fight.
He also stressed that development was part of his security strategy. “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.
The governor accused political rivals of exploiting the crisis for selfish ends. “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 warned.
Lawal pointed to the heavy security presence during a recent by-election in the state as proof that resources exist but are being prioritised for politics rather than saving lives.
Zamfara has been one of the hardest-hit states in the North-West, where armed groups rooted in cattle-rustling have grown into heavily armed networks carrying out mass abductions and rural raids. Farmers have abandoned their fields, villages have been emptied, and thousands displaced.
In 2021, about 300 schoolgirls were abducted in Jangebe, Zamfara, while over 300 schoolboys were kidnapped in Katsina the previous year. Both incidents drew international attention to the worsening security situation.
Governor Lawal’s outcry comes as President Bola Tinubu and the National Economic Council are considering the establishment of state police, a reform long demanded by governors in violence-plagued states.
Since assuming office in May 2023, Lawal has been one of the strongest advocates of state police, echoing Tinubu’s recent endorsement. Proponents argue that local police would empower governors to confront security threats directly, while critics fear potential misuse by politicians.