Zamfara Gov, Lawal, doubts commitment to war against banditry, says Tinubu not properly briefed

The governor, who had described Zamfara as the “centre of banditry” in northern Nigeria after meeting with President Bola Tinubu in March, noted that the president was not getting proper security briefing on the operations of bandits in the state.

He warned that the recurrent acts of insecurity in Zamfara, if not urgently tackled, could spill over and consume the northern part of the country.

Lawal on Tuesday appeared on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily and said banditry could be eradicated in a a couple of weeks if the government is committed to it.

According to him: “While we are trying to take care of the situation, somebody, somewhere, somehow, behind our back, is negotiating with bandits as a governor of a state, without my knowledge.

“When the situation really got bad, I had to meet Mr President and complain one-on-one, and I told him the true situation of what Zamfara is facing in terms of security.”

On whether the president was getting proper bringing on the situation of things, Lawal stated: “Based on the conversation we had, the answer is no. And I had to explain everything to him, what we are going through and what needs to be done.

“Zamfara state has become the hub of banditry in northern Nigeria. If you can take care of Zamfara today, believe me, you’d have solved 90 percent of the banditry issue in northern Nigeria as a whole.

“If we are committed, if we are serious, we can take care of this situation within two weeks maximum. But the political will is not there.”

The governor also noted that not having control over the military, police or personnel of the civil defence has rendered his government helpless in suppressing the operations of bandits in Zamfara.

He said: “In most cases, you get frustrated in terms of where do you get help from.

“When you need these people, they would be nowhere to be found. And, therefore, the best thing to do is to set up that kind of security outfit.

“There are a lot of security undertones in the security issues. Some of you find it difficult to come and say but I know what we are going through. But like I said, sometimes you are helpless and when you need them they are not there or even when they are there, they are given certain instructions on what to do and not to do.”