I can end banditry in 2 months – Zamfara gov

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State said yesterday that banditry would become history in his state if he had control over security outfits. The governor stated this as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hinted that his administration would create state police to effectively address the security challenges across the country at a meeting with Katsina elders […]

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State said yesterday that banditry would become history in his state if he had control over security outfits.

The governor stated this as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hinted that his administration would create state police to effectively address the security challenges across the country at a meeting with Katsina elders at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Governor Lawal said he is aware of the movements of every bandit kingpin operating in the state.

In a viral video clip, the governor explained that his major constraint in the ongoing fight against banditry is the lack of direct control over security agencies.

He emphasized that the security chiefs in the state only take orders from Abuja, saying, “We have dozens of tracking facilities which we fixed across the state just to help security in tracking the bandits.

“I swear to Almighty Allah, wherever a bandits’ leader is located within Zamfara State, I know it and if he goes out, I know.

“With my mobile phone, I can show you where and where these bandits are today. But we cannot do anything beyond our powers.

“If today, I have the power to give orders to the security agencies, I can assure you, we will end banditry in Zamfara State within two months.

“Most of the time, I shed tears for my people because I can see a problem but because I don’t have control over the security agencies, I cannot order the security operatives to act in time.

“There was a time, the bandits invaded Shinkafi Local Government and I was sitting here when the security operatives were alerted but they refused to go to Shinkafi simply because they were not given orders from Abuja. This is the problem we are facing but we have entrusted everything to God and surely, He will come to our rescue.”

Governor Lawal lamented that despite these challenges, the state government has continued to support security agencies with logistics and running costs, adding that records are available for anyone who wishes to verify.

He further recalled that about two months ago, the Zamfara State government distributed 150 patrol vehicles to the security agencies including police, army, Department of State Services and civil defence with a view to improving their jobs.

The governor added that apart from the thousands of personnel recruited as Community Protection Guards (CPG), his administration also hired over 2,000 local hunters from Borno and Yobe and brought them into Zamfara to complement the conventional security operatives fighting banditry in the state.

“I am doing all these despite the fact that I have no control over the security agencies; but because it’s my responsibility to protect the lives and properties of the people of Zamfara, as the chief security officer of the state.

“I have said it on several occasions that if the bandits are fighting because they lack some basic needs, I will provide them with whatever they lack; if they are lacking water, I will provide them with water, if they are lacking schools, I will build schools for them just to have peace in the state,” he said.

He said that despite the challenges his administration faces in tackling banditry, he would not relent in his efforts to end the menace, while appealing to the people of the state to be patient as the government continues to do all it can to address the problem.

‘Banditry has been politicised’

Governor Lawal further lamented that the major problem was the politicisation of the banditry issue in Zamfara State by certain individuals.

“I want to remind those undermining our efforts in the fight against banditry that their actions are destroying the state, not Dauda Lawal as governor,” he said.

Lawal recalled that during the just concluded by-election, a large number of soldiers and other security personnel were deployed to the state with all sorts of war equipment to cover an election that took place in six wards.

Daily Trust reports that even though Governor Lawal, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not mentioned those politicizing insecurity in the state, he has not been in talking terms with leaders of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

However, his supporters and those of the Minister of State for Defence, Muhammed Bello Matawalle, a former governor, have been trading blames over the handling of insecurity in Zamfara State.

It was Lawal who defeated Matawalle during the 2023 governorship election in the state.

Recent attacks in Zamfara

On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Daily Trust reported that no fewer than 26 people, mostly women, were abducted by bandits in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The abduction occurred barely 24 hours after a gang of armed bandits attacked 16 villages in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, killing five people and abducting scores.

It was reported that the attacks in Kaura Namoda took place between Saturday and Sunday. The bandits also rustled many domestic animals worth millions of naira during the operations.

According to locals, the armed bandits invaded three communities in Zurmi LGA-Zurmi town, Dada, and Gidan Shaho-abducting 24 people and injuring one.

The attack was carried out quietly, as the bandits did not fire a single shot during the operation, which lasted about an hour, it was gathered.

The Zurmi raid was similar to a previous attack in Ruwan Dorawa village about two years ago, where bandits operated for roughly two hours without firing a shot.

On Wednesday, Aug 6, 2025, it was also reported that bandits abducted 150 people in a series of attacks on several communities in Zamfara State over four days.

The spokesperson for the Zamfara State Government, Mahmud Mohammed Dantawasa, confirmed the attacks to the BBC. He neither confirmed nor denied the number of people kidnapped but said the government was making efforts to rescue the victims.

Residents of the affected communities said the heavily armed bandits carried out attacks over four days in villages including Sabon Garin Damri and Dakko Butsa (which borders Sokoto), as well as Tungar Abdu Dogo, Tungar Sarkin Daji, Sadeda, and Tungar Labi. They said the bandits often strike at night or during rainfall, taking advantage of when people are asleep.

Sources said the poor condition of roads in the state is aiding the bandits, as security personnel face serious challenges reaching the affected areas promptly.

On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, it was also reported that bandits ambushed security operatives in Adabka, a town in the Bukuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing at least 10 personnel and three civilians.

Locals said the attack happened on Friday as security forces attempted to rescue seven individuals abducted earlier in the town. Four captives escaped during the operation, while the remaining three were rescued.

Residents said the casualties included one mobile policeman, five Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members, and four community guards. The three rescued civilians were also killed during the ambush.

The District Head of Adabka, the Sarkin Kiyawa Adabka, Alhaji Nafi’u Shehu, said a mobile police officer who had gone missing during the attack returned to the village after spending four days in the forest.

He said the officer fled the bandits’ camp while some were praying and others were sleeping.

On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, a gang of armed bandits were reported to have raided Kaura Namoda town and Banga village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, abducting over 50 people, mostly women and children.

The coordinated attack, Daily Trust gathered, was allegedly led by the notorious bandits’ leader, Dan Sadiya, who is said to control Kaura Namoda and its surrounding areas.

Despite receiving the N50m ransom, the bandits failed to release most of the captives. Instead, they released only 18 of the over 50 abducted individuals after nearly three months in captivity.

On Monday, July 21, 2025, Daily Trust also reported that bandits killed eight personnel of the Zamfara Community Protection Guards (CPG) while they were protecting farmers working on a farm in Jangege village, Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The incident occurred on Friday, when Garba Dogo, a well-known member of the community guards, and his colleagues arrived at his farm around 8am to provide security for some labourers he had hired to work there.

It was gathered that at about 11am, while the labourers were busy with their tasks, a group of bandits armed with sophisticated weapons stormed the farm and began shooting indiscriminately.

A resident, who asked not to be named, said Dogo and his team engaged the attackers in a gunfight but eventually ran out of ammunition, which allowed the bandits to capture Dogo and eight others alive and kill all of them.

Also, residents of several communities in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State staged a peaceful protest on Wednesday, July 23, demanding urgent government intervention to address the surge in bandit attacks.

The protest, which began around noon, saw large crowds of residents—on motorcycles, in vehicles, and on foot—march through the state capital, eventually converging on the main gate of the Government House in Gusau.

Villages including Mada, Ruwan Bore, Fegin Baza, Bangi, Lilo, Wonaka, and Fegin Mahe have suffered repeated assaults, with locals claiming over 100 people have been killed in recent months.

One of the protesters, Malam Abubakar Abdullahi from Fegin Mahe, said he lost several relatives to the violence and had goods worth over N1 million—including 500 bags of fertiliser—looted from his shop.

The insecurity has also disrupted farming activities, with residents, saying it is increasingly unsafe to work on their land.

Reacting to the protest, the Chairman of Gusau Local Government Council, Hon. Abubakar Iman—represented by Aminu Wakili Mada—acknowledged the grievances of residents from Mada, Ruwan Bore, and Fegin Mahe.

He assured that the state government, in collaboration with security agencies, was working to restore peace and would soon deploy operatives to the most affected areas.

On Monday, May 12, 2025, it was reported that suspected bandits who disguised in police uniforms attacked Government Secondary School, Raka, in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing a teacher and abducting three women, including the wife of the deceased. The incident occurred around 8:00 p.m.

A member of the school’s management, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers breached the school’s perimeter through a hole in the back fence.

The slain teacher, identified as Malam Kabiru Abdullahi, was reportedly killed while resisting abduction.

The attackers abducted Abdullahi’s wife and two other women during the raid.

The school, which had recently transitioned to a non-boarding model due to insecurity in the area, had never experienced such an incident before.

In related incidents across Zamfara State, bandits also launched a series of coordinated attacks in Anka, Kauran Namoda, Gusau, and Maru local government areas.

In Anka, gunmen abducted two wives and six children of a resident, Abdullahi Azee.

In Kauran Namoda’s Madira village, two people were killed, while in Damba, Gusau LGA, a man, his wife, and their four-month-old baby were kidnapped.

On Saturday, 26 April 2025, atleast 28 people, including 20 miners, were killed on Thursday during a series of coordinated attacks by armed bandits in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The attacks, which occurred around 11:30 a.m., targeted the communities of Gobirawa Chali, Damaga, and Lugga. Residents described the assaults as sudden and brutal, with gunmen reportedly arriving in large numbers.

Reuters quoted a resident, Ismail Hassan, as saying that “gunmen in their hundreds opened fire on miners on Thursday afternoon and a firefight ensued,” leading to numerous fatalities.

Amnesty International, in a statement issued, confirmed the attack, stating that the assailants went door-to-door in Gobirawa Chali, killing more than 20 people.

Tinubu hints at creation of state police

Meanwhile, President Tinubu has hinted that his administration would create a state police to effectively address the security challenges across the country.

The president also promised that he would further equip the recently deployed forest guards to enhance security, especially in parts of the North West, including Katsina State, where bandits have been attacking citizens.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement issued after President Tinubu met with Katsina elders at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, noted that the president, while decrying the politicisation of the proposed state police, said security challenges in some states would require the deployment of outfits that understand the terrain, respect the local culture, and can easily connect at the grassroots.

He said, “The security challenges that we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we have porous borders. We inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. It is a challenge that we must fix, and we are facing it.

“I have today, directed all the security agencies to energise further and look at the strategies. We have approved the additional acquisition of drones.”

The president also directed daily feedback on the operations in Katsina.

“I am reviewing all the aspects of security; I have to create a state police. We are looking at that holistically. We will defeat insecurity. We must protect our children, people, livelihoods, places of worship, and recreational spaces. They can’t intimidate us,” the president added.

NEC divided on state police

In April, Vice President Kashim Shettima, state governors and some ministers rose from the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting without discussing the issue of State Police.

Answering questions from State House correspondents after the NEC meeting presided over by the Vice President, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri said the issue of state police was not considered due to the many presentations the council had to attend to.

He, however, promised that the issue would be exhaustively deliberated upon in their next meeting.

Asked while none of those who addressed the press spoke about state police, Diri said, “For your information, state police was part of our agenda today, unfortunately because of time demands after a very long meeting. You know we have been here for a very long time, because of the presentations, we were unable to get to that.

“But I can assure you that in our next meeting, that issue will be exhaustively discussed,” he said.

In December, after all the 36 states had submitted their positions on state police, with a majority agreeing on the need for state police to tackle insecurity, the deliberation on the issue was differed.

That was the third time the issue would be shifted. In February this year, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, while briefing State House correspondents after the meeting also said the deliberations had been shifted.

In February last year, the idea of state police was raised after a meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and state governors, following widespread insecurity in many parts of the country.

Addressing State House correspondents after the meeting, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, explained that the process is still in its infancy and would only take shape after more deliberations between stakeholders.

Defence minister speaks

Meanwhile, the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, yesterday said that terrorists exploit porous borders, weak governance and deep socio-economic disparities to wreak havoc in West Africa and the Sahel region.

Badaru, who stated that modern-day terrorism has assumed a more complex and dangerous character, argued that terrorism takes root in communities where grievances are left unaddressed and spreads through ungoverned spaces where institutions are absent.

He stated this when he declared open, the Regional Conference on Combating Emerging Terrorist Groups and Strengthening Sustainable Security in the ECOWAS Region and the Sahel, organised by the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA).

While acknowledging that these realities are stark, the minister emphasised that they do not define the region’s destiny, rather, they are challenges that governments must confront collectively – with determination, innovation and solidarity.

The minister explained, “We are dealing with adversaries who are adaptive, highly networked and increasingly sophisticated in their methods. Their collaboration with international terrorist organisations has created a web of instability that stretches across borders.

“They exploit encrypted communication platforms, deploy unmanned aerial systems, and radicalise vulnerable youth online. This evolution underscores the urgency of our meeting today.

“Terrorism, insurgency and insecurity are not abstract threats – they are existential challenges that endanger our people, our economies and our shared future.”

 Badaru said the operationalisation of the ECOWAS Standby Force must be pursued with renewed vigour.

He added, “Harmonisation of legal frameworks across member states will ensure that terrorists and their support networks find no safe haven. The creation of a regional counterterrorism task force, fully trained and equipped for rapid deployment is an initiative we must embrace.

“At the same time, capacity building is essential. Our forces require not only modern equipment but also advanced training to meet the evolving challenges of counterterrorism.

“Thirdly, we must address the root causes of radicalisation. Military force is necessary but not sufficient. Poverty, unemployment, exclusion and poor governance provide fertile ground for extremist ideologies. Investing in education, strengthening community resilience, and ensuring good governance are equally critical to our long-term security. Winning the hearts and minds of our populations will deny extremist groups the local support they seek to exploit.”

Robust non-kinetic measures will end terrorism in Nigeria, says Counter-Terrorism Centre

On his part, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Adamu Laka, noted that experience in counter-terrorism operations over the years has shown that a lasting solution lies in addressing the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism.

Laka, a Major-General, stressed that fighting terrorism requires robust non-kinetic measures that foster dialogue, reconciliation, education, economic empowerment, social cohesion and community resilience.

The senior military officer noted that Nigeria has been focusing on initiatives such as community engagement, counter-radicalisation and deradicalisation programmes, strategic communication to counter extremist propaganda, as well as rehabilitation and reintegration of disengaged individuals, including psychosocial support for victims.

“With the support of government and development partners, we continue to invest in livelihoods, youth and women empowerment, and education. In parallel, we uphold the criminal justice system and the rule of law in our counterterrorism efforts.”

According to him, sustainable security is not about military actions but about winning hearts and minds, restoring trust in governance, and investing in human development and the rule of law in our counterterrorism efforts.