Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has expressed frustration over his inability to control security operations in the state. Speaking at a town hall meeting on Channels Television in Abuja, marking Nigeria’s 25th Democracy Day, Governor Lawal criticized the political interference hampering efforts to tackle banditry in the North-Western state.
Governor Lawal highlighted the dire security situation in Zamfara, where bandits continue to wreak havoc on local communities. He lamented that although he holds the title of the state’s chief security officer, he lacks actual command over military, police, or civil defense forces. “By name, I am the chief security officer of my state but when it comes to command and control, I don’t have control over any of the security outfits whether the military, the police, or civil defense. They take their instructions from their superiors, not from the governors. We don’t have that control. I wish we did; it would have been a different story,” Lawal stated.
The governor attributed the persistent security challenges to political interference, asserting that such meddling prevents security agencies from effectively addressing the crisis. “Political interference is the major factor here. If we don’t have that, the military have the capacity to crush anybody. Remember, we do have our forces in Liberia, Sierra Leone and they did very well,” he added.
Governor Lawal expressed optimism that with sufficient political will, banditry and other security issues could be resolved within two weeks. Zamfara State has been severely affected by banditry, with criminals raiding villages, killing residents, and destroying homes. In response, Governor Lawal initiated the formation of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards in February, aiming to bolster local security efforts.
Despite these initiatives, the governor’s comments underscore the ongoing struggle for effective control and coordination in combating banditry in Zamfara and the broader North-Western region.
