“I Swear To Almighty Allah, Wherever A Bandit Leader Is Located In Zamfara, I know” – Gov Lawal

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Indicts the Federal Government

Zamfara  State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has made  a startling statement. He said he knows exactly the whereabouts of every bandit, every terrorist in his State, murdering his subjects.

To confirm how serious he is, the Governor swore in the name of the Almighty Allah. But if he does then, why has he not been able to tell alert Security Authorities so can  take care of them?

Lawal has an answer. He lays the blame on the feet of the Federal Government. He puts the greatest part of the blame for the unending insurgency in the State on the tradition of Heads of Security Agencies taking instructions  from the Federal Government.

The Governor

affirmed that he could end all forms of insecurity and terrorist activities in Zamfara within two months ,if he has full control of the operations of security  in the state.

In a viral video in circulation, Governor Lawal whose state is one of the most ravaged by the activities of terrorists and other criminal elements, insisted that he has the magic wand to fish out the so-called bandits because he knows their modus-operandi and movement charts.

“I swear to Almighty Allah , wherever a bandit leader is located within Zamfara State, I know it. If he moves out ,I also know. With my mobile phone, I can show you their exact locations today.

“But because I don’t have the power to give direct orders to Security Agencies, nothing can be done immediately.

“We have invested heavily in surveillance and Intelligence-gathering technologies.

“We have dozens of tracking facilities fixed across the State which can pinpoint bandits movements.

“Sadly, the information often goes to waste because security operatives insist they must get clearance from Abuja before taking action”, Governor  Lawal stated.

Relieving one of those occasions when security personnel refused to act unless there was a directive from Abuja, the Zamfara State Governor said he was moved to tears when security operatives failed to intervened

to save some communities in Shinkafi Local Government Area  because there was were no directives from Abuja.

“That day I shed tears for my people. I saw the problem clearly,but I was powerless”, Lawal lamented.

But despite the constraints and the challenges, Governor Lawal stated that Zamfara State Government has continued to demonstrate resilience and unflinching commitment towards addressing the security situation.

In addition to supporting Security Agencies in their task of combating insecurity, the State authorities, he informed, has recruited over several thousands of  personnel into the Zamfara State Community Protections Guards, about 2000 local hunters from Borno and Yobe States, to complement the efforts of conventional security agencies in addressing the situation.

He also expressed the willingness to assist resettling the bandits, should they choose the part of peace.

“I am doing all these despite not having authority over security agencies. As the Chief Security Officer CSO of Zamfara state, I cannot fold my arms when lives are at risk.

“If the bandits lack water, I am ready to provide it. If they are complaining about lack of schools, I will build them. If they lack healthcare facilities, we are ready to provide them. In fact, whatever they need to live in peace, we are ready to provide for them”, Lawal assured.