“Banditry Will Become A Forgotten Issue In Zamfara If I Am Given Control Over Security Agencies” – Gov Lawal

By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has  stated that  banditry will become history in the State if he is given the opportunity to be in charge of the Security Agencies and apparatus in the State.

Promising to wipe out Banditry within two months if given the opportunity, the Governor said that it was sad that Security Agencies receive directives from Abuja, stressing that he knows where the Bandits are in the State.

The Governor, in a video that has gone viral, explained that he knows the exact places where the bandits hide. But he cannot act because security officers in Zamfara take orders only from Abuja.

Governor Lawal 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.”

The Governor became emotional as he narrated how residents suffer repeated attacks while security operatives delay because they are waiting for clearance from the Federal Government.

He recalled one incident in Shinkafi Local Government Area where bandits attacked and Security Operatives refused to move without instructions from Abuja.

“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,” he lamented.

Lawal explained that despite not having direct control, his government has been supporting security efforts.

He said 150 patrol vehicles were shared among the Police, Army, DSS and Civil Defence.

He also noted that thousands of Community Protection Guards and 2,000 hunters from Borno and Yobe states were recruited to join the fight.

“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,” the Governor added.

Following the State of insecurity in Zamfara, there have been calls from different quarters that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declare a State of Emergency.