Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has stated that he could bring an end to banditry in the state within two months if he were given direct control over security agencies. Speaking in a viral video, the governor claimed to have the ability to track the daily movements of bandits and expressed frustration over the need to wait for directives from Abuja.
“I swear to Allah, there was a time I shed tears,” Lawal said in Hausa. “We see there’s a need for them (security operatives) to be there (areas prone to bandit attacks) and protect people but they won’t until they get directives from Abuja.” He added that he recently distributed 150 new cars to security agencies to support their operations, despite his limited authority to give them orders.
The governor’s comments come amid a recent surge in attacks by gunmen and bandits in Zamfara, one of the northern states most affected by insecurity. In late August, over 100 people were abducted and two were killed in attacks on Gamdum Mallam and Ruwan Rana villages in the Bukkuyum local government area. This followed an earlier incident in early August, where gunmen raided several communities in Kauran Namoda LGA, killing 24 people and abducting 144.
“I swear to God wherever bandits are, we know. I know, I can show you on this phone wherever they are… I know, but we can do nothing,” Lawal said, suggesting that a lack of local control over security forces is the primary obstacle. He reiterated a previous claim from 2024, stating, “If I am the one in power to give the directives, I swear this issue will come to an end in 2 months.”
