Gov Lawal: Banditry in Zamfara Can End in Two Months with Full Security Control

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has declared that the state’s lingering insecurity could be resolved within two months if security agencies were placed fully under his control.

                                      

In a widely circulated video, Lawal expressed frustration over the limited powers of governors in directing security operations, despite being chief security officers of their states.

Governor Lawal claimed he had intelligence on the locations of bandit leaders within Zamfara.

“I swear to Almighty Allah, wherever a bandits’ leader is located within Zamfara State, I know it, and if he goes out, I know. With my mobile phone, I can show you where these bandits are today. But we cannot do anything beyond our powers,” he said.

He emphasized that the absence of authority prevents him from acting swiftly.

The governor recounted an incident in Shinkafi Local Government, where security personnel failed to respond promptly to a robbery because they had not received clearance from Abuja.

“If today, I have the power to give orders to the security agencies, I can assure you, we will end banditry in Zamfara State within two months,” he said, adding that he often sheds tears for his people due to his inability to act decisively.

Lawal’s remarks highlight ongoing calls for state police or greater decentralization of security in Nigeria. Governors in crisis-prone states often lament their lack of authority over federal security forces, even as banditry and rural violence persist.