Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, says banditry would be history in the state if he had direct control over security agencies.
In a viral video, the governor lamented that despite equipping security operatives with 150 new vehicles, he cannot command them since they only take orders from Abuja.
“I swear to Allah, there was a time I shed tears,” Lawal said in Hausa. “Wherever bandits are, we know. I can show you on this phone their exact location. But without authority to give directives, nothing can be done. If I had that power, this issue will end in two months.”
Zamfara has remained one of the worst-hit states by banditry in northern Nigeria. Just last month, gunmen attacked villages in Bukkuyum LGA, killing two and abducting over 100 residents. Earlier in August, another attack in Kauran Namoda LGA claimed 24 lives, left 16 injured, and saw 144 people abducted.
Governor Lawal has repeatedly insisted he can end banditry quickly if given the powers to direct security operations. In 2024, he declared he could crush bandits in just two weeks.
