The governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has disclosed that he has the capacity to wipe out banditry in the state within two months if he is given control over security agencies.
In a video that has gone viral, the governor explained that he knows the exact places where the bandits hide.
However, Lawal expressed regret that he cannot act because security officers in Zamfara take orders only from Abuja.
He said: “I swear to Almighty Allah, wherever a bandit leader is in Zamfara State, I know it. If he goes out, I know.
“With my phone, I can show you where they are today. But we cannot do anything beyond our powers.”
He emotionally narrated how residents suffer repeated attacks while security operatives delay because they are waiting for clearance from the federal government.
He recalled several incidents including one in Shinkafi Local Government Area where bandits attacked and security forces refused to move without instructions from Abuja.
He said emotionally; “If today I have the power to give orders to the security agencies, I can assure you, we will end banditry in Zamfara within two months.
“Most of the time I shed tears for my people, because I see the problem but I cannot order the security men to act in time.”
However, the governor noted that despite not having direct control, his government has been supporting security efforts.
He highlighted that 150 patrol vehicles were shared among the Police, Army, DSS and Civil Defence.
Similarly, he explained that thousands of Community Protection Guards and 2,000 hunters from Borno and Yobe states were recruited to join the fight.
According to him, the politicisation of insecurity is not hurting me as a person; it is destroying Zamfara.
Over the years, Zamfara has faced one of the worst banditry crises in northern Nigeria, with kidnappings, killings, and mass displacement of villagers.
At some point, many citizens protested in Gusau, the state capital, accusing leaders of failing to protect them.Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday ,said his government is considering the creation of state police to tackle insecurity, alongside the use of drones and forest guards in troubled areas.
