…Accusses Gov of withholding intelligence from security agencies
…Warns Lawal must stop apportioning blame and face insecurity
The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised Governor Dauda Lawal over his handling of the state’s worsening insecurity, urging him to fulfil his campaign pledge of ending banditry within two months. The party accused the governor of failing to cooperate effectively with security agencies in addressing the crisis.
Governor Lawal had previously vowed that he could eradicate banditry in Zamfara within two months if given direct control of security operations. In a viral video released on Wednesday, the governor broke down in tears as he lamented that security operatives in the state continue to take instructions from Abuja, which he said undermines local efforts to restore peace.
“I can tell you the whereabouts of every bandit kingpin in Zamfara, even with my phone. I can point to you where they are right now. But I do not control security agencies, and that is the problem,” Governor Lawal said.
He recounted a recent attack in Shinkafi Local Government Area in which dozens of residents were killed. He claimed he made desperate calls to security forces but they declined to intervene, insisting they were awaiting clearance from Abuja.
“People were under attack, and I kept calling the security agencies. They told me they were waiting for orders from Abuja. How do I save my people in such a situation?” he asked.
Despite these constraints, the governor said his administration had supplied 150 patrol vehicles to the police, military, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. He also revealed that thousands of Community Protection Guards and over 2,000 hunters from Borno and Yobe States have been recruited to reinforce security efforts.
Governor Lawal further stressed the need to address poverty and underdevelopment, which he identified as drivers of rural violence. “We are working to provide water, schools, and other amenities because we know that when people live well, peace is easier to achieve,” he said.
He accused political rivals of exploiting the insecurity for their own benefit, saying such actions were aggravating the suffering of Zamfara’s residents.
In a counter-statement issued on Thursday in Gusau, APC Publicity Secretary, Mr Yusuf Idris, condemned the governor’s remarks on the state’s security situation.
“It is unfortunate for the governor and chief security officer of the state to be saying that he is aware of the movement of every bandits’ kingpin and his gang operating in the state. Very unfortunately, the governor refused to give an intelligence report to the security agencies fighting the bandits day and night,” Idris said.
The APC spokesman went further to accuse Governor Lawal of indirectly exposing himself as complicit in Zamfara’s security challenges by admitting knowledge of the bandits’ locations without taking decisive action.
“The APC, as a party, we don’t know why the governor continues to overlook the issue of insecurity, giving bandits the chance to continue killing and abducting innocent citizens,” Idris stated.
He also dismissed the governor’s earlier claim that he could end banditry within two weeks if given full authority, saying it underscored the administration’s inability to protect lives and property.
The party alleged that Governor Lawal has avoided working closely with the federal government, often criticising Abuja rather than building partnerships to improve security operations.
“We noticed that several times, the governor always condemns the federal government under the APC,” Idris added.
The opposition party called on the governor to follow the example of former Governor Bello Matawalle, who they credited with providing logistics and operational vehicles to security agencies, and demanded that Lawal focus on delivering on his campaign promises.
“The APC calls on Lawal to concentrate on delivering his campaign promises of ending banditry in two months and stop apportioning blame on anybody,” the statement concluded.
