Governor Dauda Lawal Reveals He Knows Band!t Hideouts in Zamfara (video)

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, says he knows where terrorists and bandits are hiding across the state.

But according to him, there’s little he can do since he doesn’t have control over the security forces needed to arrest them.

The Governor stressed that if he were given direct command of the security agencies, banditry could be crushed within two months. Unfortunately, he lamented, security operatives only take orders from Abuja.

In a viral video shared on Wednesday, Lawal broke down in tears while recounting recent attacks. He recalled how bandits invaded Shinkafi Local Government, yet security officers on the ground refused to move without clearance from Abuja.

He maintained that with his knowledge of the terrain and the hideouts of criminal leaders, the crisis could be ended quickly if he had the authority.

“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.

“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?” the Governor lamented.

Despite what he described as the politicisation of security, Lawal said his administration has not stopped supporting security operatives with logistics and funding.

According to him, 150 patrol vehicles have already been shared among the police, military, DSS and civil defence. Thousands of Community Protection Guards, along with over 2,000 hunters from Borno and Yobe States, have also been recruited to join the fight.

“We are working to provide water, schools and other amenities because we know that when people live well, peace is easier to achieve.

“The politicisation of insecurity is not hurting me as a person; it is destroying Zamfara. Some people do not want us to succeed, but I will not stop trying,” he stated.