Zamfara Security Has Improved Under Me- Gov

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has disclosed that he didn’t promise to end insecurity immediately when he came to office three years ago, saying significant progress has been made in the area since he became the state chief executive.

The governor, however, said significant progress has been made to end the menace, with the combined efforts of the security agencies and local vigilante

Speaking in an interview with the BBC, Governor Lawal said his pledge during the 2023 governorship campaign was to implement measures that would bring relief to residents and improve security across the state adding that his administration faced enormous challenges when he became governor.

According to him, the challenges faced, under him, include insecurity, which the state has faced for years.

Zamfara, is one of the epicenter of kidnapping, terrorism and banditry, the governor however stated that his administration has responded swiftly to the problem, and that significant progress has been recorded.

As soon as he became governor, Lawal said  his administration responded by establishing the Zamfara Community Protection Guards, popularly known as Askarawa, to complement the efforts of federal security agencies in tackling banditry and other violent crimes.
The guards, the governor said, were recruited from local communities in collaboration with security agencies, including the DSS, police and military, before undergoing about three months of training and being equipped with weapons, vehicles and other operational tools.
He noted that the initiative has helped improve intelligence gathering and response time because the personnel are familiar with the terrain and communities they serve.
The governor claimed that attacks in the state have declined significantly since the introduction of the outfit, estimating a reduction of about 60 per cent.
“I am not saying attacks no longer happen. What I am saying is that the frequency and intensity are not what they used to be,” he said.
Reacting to criticism that insecurity continues to affect farming activities in parts of the state, Lawal maintained that he never promised an immediate end to the crisis.
“I never promised that I would completely end insecurity immediately. What I promised was that I would take measures to bring relief to the people, and by the grace of Allah, we have done that,” he said.
The governor added that while security challenges persist, the state’s collaboration with federal security agencies and the deployment of community protection guards have delivered measurable gains in the fight against banditry.