Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has declared that he could end banditry in the state within two months if security agencies were placed under his direct control.
In a viral video on Wednesday, the governor broke down in tears while recounting recent attacks in Shinkafi Local Government, where dozens of villagers were killed. He lamented that security operatives often fail to act because they take instructions from Abuja rather than the state.
“I can tell you the whereabouts of every bandit kingpin in Zamfara, even with my phone. But I do not control security agencies, and that is the problem,” Lawal said.
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He explained that his government has provided 150 patrol vehicles and logistics to police, military, DSS, and civil defense, yet responses remain slow. Thousands of Community Protection Guards and hunters have also been recruited to support local defense.
Lawal accused political opponents of exploiting insecurity for personal gain. “The politicization of insecurity is not hurting me; it is destroying Zamfara,” he warned.
Zamfara remains one of the states worst hit by banditry in the Northwest, with armed groups carrying out mass abductions, killings, and rural raids. Farmers have abandoned their fields, and villages continue to empty due to constant attacks.
The governor’s remarks come as President Bola Tinubu and the National Economic Council consider the creation of state police, a long-standing demand from governors in violence-plagued states. Supporters believe state police would empower local governments to tackle insecurity, while critics fear it could be misused by politicians.
For Zamfara residents, Lawal’s statement reflects both hope and frustration—a belief that banditry can be crushed and anger at a system that keeps power out of the state’s hands.
