By Atoyebi Nike
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has declared that he could eliminate banditry in two months if security agencies were placed under his direct authority.
In an emotional video that went viral on Wednesday, the governor broke down in tears while recounting deadly attacks, accusing federal control of security forces of hindering swift action.
Lawal said he has detailed knowledge of the terrain and locations of criminal leaders but lacks the power to deploy security operatives without clearance from Abuja. He cited the recent Shinkafi massacre, where dozens were killed as security forces on standby failed to act without federal orders.
Despite these limitations, the state government has supplied 150 patrol vehicles, logistics support and recruited Community Protection Guards along with hunters from Borno and Yobe to assist security agencies. Lawal added that his administration is tackling root causes of violence by investing in schools, water, and rural amenities.
The governor accused political rivals of exploiting the crisis for personal gain, warning that the “politicisation of insecurity” was worsening the plight of citizens.
His outcry comes as President Bola Tinubu and the National Economic Council consider establishing state police, a long-demanded reform by governors in violence-hit regions.
For Zamfara residents, who face mass abductions and abandoned farmlands, Lawal’s claim of ending banditry within two months highlights both a message of hope and the deep flaws of Nigeria’s centralized security system.
