‘I Know Where Bandits Are, But Security Agents Take Orders from Abuja’ – Zamfara Governor

Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, has declared that he could eliminate banditry in the state within two months if he were granted direct control over security agencies.

In a video that has since gone viral, Governor Lawal revealed that he knows the exact hideouts of the bandits terrorising rural communities but cannot act because security operatives stationed in the state take instructions solely from Abuja.

“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,” Lawal said emotionally.

The governor recounted how communities continue to suffer repeated attacks because of bureaucratic delays in authorising security operations. Citing an incident in Shinkafi Local Government Area, he explained that security forces refused to engage bandits during an attack until they received clearance from the federal authorities.

“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,” he added.

Support for Security Efforts

Despite lacking command authority, Lawal noted that his administration has heavily supported security operations. According to him, 150 patrol vehicles have been distributed among the Police, Army, DSS, and Civil Defence. In addition, his government recruited thousands of Community Protection Guards and enlisted 2,000 hunters from Borno and Yobe States to strengthen the fight against terrorism.

The governor lamented that the politicisation of insecurity was frustrating the battle against banditry:

“The politicisation of insecurity is not hurting me as a person; it is destroying Zamfara. Some people do not want us to succeed. But I will not stop trying,” he stressed.

Worsening Insecurity in Zamfara

Zamfara remains one of the hardest-hit states in northern Nigeria, with relentless cases of kidnappings, killings, and mass displacement. In recent months, residents of Gusau, the state capital, have staged protests accusing both state and federal leaders of failing to protect them.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has announced that his administration is considering the establishment of state police, alongside the deployment of drones and forest guards, to bolster security across troubled regions.