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The Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, says although his administration is doing its best to rid the state of banditry, the fate of the people ultimately lies in God’s hands.
Lawal said security forces had covered grounds in the past few days, especially with the killing of several terrorist leaders in his domain.
The governor told State House Correspondents after closed-door talks with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
“We are doing the best that we can to make sure we secure the lives and properties of our people… we’re doing the best that we can, but it’s in the hands of God.,” he said.
His comments come hours after armed bandits killed a police officer and kidnapped an expatriate and scores of travellers, including some workers of a construction firm in Zamfara on Thursday morning.
The incident occurred when the heavily armed bandits blocked the ever-busy Tsafe-Funtua road for several hours, shooting at moving vehicles.
Zamfara in North West Nigeria has been facing severe security challenges, mainly due to the activities of bandits, who engage in mass abductions, killings, cattle rustling and attacks on villages.
In 2023 and 2024, the situation escalated, with several communities in rural areas being overrun by bandit groups, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes.
The crisis has been compounded by the displacement of local populations and the inability of security forces to consistently secure the affected areas, experts say.
In response, the federal government recently launched several military operations, including air and ground offensives, to target bandit hideouts, but these efforts have yielded mixed results. Despite some successes, the bandits continue to regroup and launch counterattacks.
More so, Lawal recently accused his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, of sponsoring banditry in the state.
During a television interview in September 2024, Lawal alleged that Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence, was deeply involved in supporting bandits during his tenure as governor.
He claimed that the former governor had even allowed bandits to be hosted at the Zamfara Government House and questioned his integrity by suggesting he step down as Minister to clear his name.
However, Matawalle vehemently denied the accusations, challenging Governor Lawal and other political figures to swear on the Quran to prove their innocence, as he had done during his time as governor.
In his chat with journalists, Governor Lawal said, “The reality is that the insecurity in Zamfara State has existed for the past 12 years, and as a responsible government, we are tackling it head-on.
“We are doing the best that we can to ensure the lives and properties of our people. It’s an ongoing process and will continue until we end this banditry issue in Zamfara and, invariably, Nigeria as a nation.”
The governor, who declined to list specific measures by his administration, argued that “the security situation is not something I can discuss on camera. But all I can say is, we are doing our best to make sure we handle the situation.”
He noted that the efforts have yielded some results, including killing some major bandit leaders.
Asked how soon Zamfara residents should expect calm restored to the state, Lawal replied, “I’m praying that even by tomorrow, they [Zamfara residents] can go to sleep. We’re doing the best that we can, but it’s in the hands of God.”
He also told journalists that all governors are determined to keep the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party, in one piece despite the ongoing turmoil.
The crisis within the PDP ballooned into two factions on Thursday, each of whom traded suspensions of the members.
The Damagum-led faction first suspended the National Legal Adviser, Adeyemi Ajibade, and the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and set up a committee to probe their alleged disloyalty to the party.
Likewise, the Ajibade faction responded by suspending the acting national chairman, Damagum and the national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.
But Lawal, who spoke in Hausa, said, “There is no political party without challenges. This is a political issue. As you know, we are looking for ways to overcome these challenges. It is not only about the PDP.”
On claims that the party has no leader, he replied, “Anyone can say what they want. It is not true, and we know it is not. We are fully on the ground to ensure the party stands strong.”
The governor also noted that the Zamfara state is intentional about empowering its girls and is “making significant progress in that area, and it will continue.”
