Politics
Zamfara Group Slams Governor Dauda Lawal Over Banditry Remark, Calls for State of Emergency
Zamfara Group Slams Governor Dauda Lawal Over Banditry Remark, Calls for State of Emergency
The Zamfara Good Governance Network (ZGGN) has sharply criticised Governor Dauda Lawal over a viral video in which he claimed that banditry in the state would end within two months if he had control over security agencies. The group described the governor’s remarks as an insult to the Nigerian military and a betrayal of the people of Zamfara, accusing him of playing politics with lives after nearly three years in office.
In the undated video that circulated widely this week, Lawal, speaking in Hausa, said he had bought 150 vehicles for security agencies but could not direct their use, stressing that orders could only come from Abuja. He added that he had access to tracking devices that revealed the daily movements of bandits, insisting that if he had the authority to command the security forces, the menace would end in two months.
Reacting in Abuja on Wednesday, Murtala Abdullahi, president of the Zamfara Good Governance Network, described the statement as both reckless and shameful.
“This is a governor who campaigned on the promise of ending insecurity in Zamfara and rode on that sentiment to secure his mandate. Now, almost three years into his administration, he is telling the world that he can solve the problem in two months if only he had control of security agencies. This is not just laughable, it is an affront to the gallant men and women of our armed forces who continue to make sacrifices in Zamfara,” Abdullahi said.
The group accused Lawal of deliberately undermining federal efforts to tackle banditry in the state, pointing to his own admission that he knows the exact locations of criminal gangs but has not shared such intelligence with the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), or the military high command.
“Governor Lawal has openly confessed to knowing where bandits are located and even claimed he can track their movements on his phone. Yet, rather than handing this information to the appropriate authorities, he is sitting on it, while innocent villagers are being massacred and abducted on a daily basis. That is nothing short of complicity,” Abdullahi declared.
He further accused the governor of hypocrisy, noting that while Lawal laments a lack of control over security agencies, he personally moves around the state with a heavily armed convoy, including personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other paramilitary outfits.
“Whereas he enjoys full protection with sophisticated equipment and military-grade vehicles, his comrades in arms are out there killing ordinary citizens. The governor has created for himself a cocoon of safety while failing to protect the very people he swore an oath to defend. His claim that he has no control is belied by the very visible security detail he commands daily within Zamfara,” Abdullahi said.
The ZGGN described the situation as a compromise too grave to ignore, warning that Zamfara could not continue to drift under a governor it accused of failing to provide leadership in the face of escalating violence.
“With this level of compromise, it is only wise that the President declares a state of emergency in Zamfara. This administration has failed woefully to deliver on its most basic duty, which is the protection of lives and property. The earlier the President acts, the better for the people of Zamfara who are being killed on a daily basis,” Abdullahi stated.
The group highlighted recent attacks that have left dozens dead and hundreds abducted in local government areas such as Bukkuyum and Kaura Namoda, arguing that the scale of bloodshed had reached intolerable levels.
“It is shameful that instead of providing solutions, the governor is busy issuing excuses. Just in August alone, more than 24 people were killed in Kaura Namoda, 16 injured, and 144 abducted. A week later, 100 villagers were taken from Bukkuyum, with two killed. What Zamfara needs is decisive leadership, not a governor who cries on camera while admitting he has the intelligence to end banditry but chooses not to act,” Abdullahi said.
The ZGGN called on civil society organisations, religious leaders, and community groups to raise their voices in demanding accountability from the governor, warning that silence in the face of repeated attacks would only embolden the criminals.
“Our people cannot continue to be sacrificial lambs on the altar of weak leadership. Governor Lawal must stop hiding behind excuses and start delivering results. If he cannot, then let the federal government step in to take control and rescue Zamfara from total collapse,” Abdullahi said.
Governor Bago Inaugurates APC Digital Media Sub-Committee Ahead of National Convention.
Governor Umaru Bago has inaugurated the Digital Media Sub-Committee for the forthcoming National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), scheduled to hold on March 27 and 28, 2026 in Abuja.
Chairing the sub-committee, Governor Bago tasked members with the responsibility of effectively communicating the party’s manifesto to the public.
He emphasized the need to leverage social media platforms to highlight the achievements and ongoing efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that communication gaps have posed challenges that must now be decisively addressed.
The Co-Chair of the sub-committee, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, echoed the Governor’s position, urging members to project the activities of both the party and the government to a broader audience.
He called for a deliberate and coordinated effort to showcase the party’s achievements and policy direction, stressing the importance of shaping a compelling and consistent narrative across all digital platforms.
Delivering a presentation to the committee, Otega Ogra, SSA to the President on New Media, who serves as Secretary of the sub-committee, outlined strategic focus areas to guide the team’s operations.
His presentation highlighted communication priorities and actionable steps to achieve the committee’s mandate and strengthen the party’s digital engagement.
VP Shettima Set to Lead Delegation to Zamfara as Governor Dauda Lawal Formally Joins APC
The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has finalized plans to receive Vice President Kashim Shettima for the formal defection and reception of Governor Dauda Lawal into the ruling party, scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
State APC Chairman, Tukur Danfulani Maikatako, disclosed this during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held in Gusau, the state capital. He noted that the Vice President would be joined by the party’s national leadership to mark what he described as a landmark political realignment in the state.
Maikatako expressed the party’s excitement over Governor Lawal’s return, recalling that Zamfara had historically been an APC stronghold and that the Governor was previously a bona fide member of the party before his earlier exit.
“We all know that Zamfara has long been one of the APC’s stronghold states, where the defected Governor was once a bona fide member. Now that he has decided to return home, having been satisfied that the APC remains his second choice after the one he left for obvious reasons,” Maikatako stated.
The Chairman called on all party faithful across the 147 wards in the state’s 14 local government areas to turn out en masse to honour the Vice President’s visit. He emphasized that the event was strategically positioned to bolster the party’s popularity and strengthen its structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a strong appeal for unity, Maikatako urged members to set aside all factional tendencies, stressing that the APC remained one political family with shared goals, particularly the ambition to make Zamfara and Nigeria great again.
Echoing similar sentiments, a former state APC Chairman, Lawal M. Liman, appealed to members to cascade the message to their wards and local government areas. He reinforced the need for cohesion, noting that the party’s collective strength would be critical to achieving success in future elections.
All eyes are now on Gusau as the ruling party prepares for a high-profile political gathering expected to further consolidate its influence in Zamfara State.
Governor Dauda Lawal Named Part of Presidential Delegation for Historic UK State Visit
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has been named as a member of the presidential entourage that will accompany President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on a historic two-day State Visit to the United Kingdom.
According to a statement from the Zamfara State Government House on Monday, the Governor will depart Abuja for the UK on Tuesday for the visit, which is scheduled to take place on March 18 and 19 at the invitation of the British Royal Family.
During the visit, King Charles III will host President Tinubu, the First Lady, and the Nigerian delegation at Windsor Castle, where they will view a special exhibition of Royal Collection items related to Nigeria. The Royal Family will also host a State Banquet in honour of the Nigerian guests on the evening of Wednesday, March 18.
The presidency has outlined that the purpose of the visit is to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. President Tinubu is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which are expected to lead to expanded bilateral discussions and the signing of Memorandums of Understanding covering trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation.
The President will also serve as the guest of honour at the Nigerian Modernism exhibition, which showcases contemporary art and culture, and will participate in a reception with Nigerian and British business leaders as well as members of the diaspora community.
The Zamfara State Government expressed confidence that Governor Lawal’s participation in the high-level delegation will provide valuable networking opportunities, opening significant prospects for investment and economic benefits for Zamfara State. The visit will also see Governor Lawal display his repertoire of knowledge on global policy and corporate governance and also pitch the Mineral and Farming rich state to potential investors during the bilateral meeting with the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer.
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