Monday February 16, 2026 – Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has publicly accused federal security agencies of inaction, stating that his administration provides them with real-time locations of terrorists which are often ignored.
Speaking in an interview regarding the state of affairs in Zamfara, Governor Lawal expressed deep frustration with the military and police response to banditry, despite the state government’s investment in high-level surveillance technology.
“We See Them via Satellite”
Governor Lawal disclosed that the state government employs advanced technology, including satellites and drones, to monitor criminal elements. He insisted that the location of bandits is not a mystery.
“With technology, every movement of any bandit, I have it in my system,” Lawal stated. “Every movement is communicated to all the relevant security operators: Police, Military, DSS, and Civil Defence in real-time. But it is not their priority, and it’s frustrating.”
The Governor questioned how terrorists could appear superior to the state, noting that these criminals “live within us” and could be easily neutralized if the political and operational will existed.
Confronting the Presidency
Lawal revealed that he has taken the matter directly to President Bola Tinubu, warning him that the security briefings he receives might not reflect the reality on the ground.
“I met the President and I made it very clear to him that… they are not telling you the truth,” Lawal said. He rejected the common excuse of “insufficient weapons,” arguing that the primary failure is one of strategy and commitment rather than hardware.
From N4 Million to N5 Billion IGR
Beyond security, the Governor highlighted massive economic turnaround in the state. He claimed to have inherited a treasury with only N4 million and a dysfunctional system where minimum wage could not be paid.
Since taking office, he noted that his administration has:
* Boosted Internally Generated Revenue (IGR): Rising from a meagre N90 million monthly to over N5 billion by blocking leakages and rationalizing ministries.
* Zero Borrowing: The Governor claims he has not borrowed a single dime, running the state on its own resources while servicing a N1.2 billion monthly deduction from previous debts.
* Infrastructure: A new International Airport is scheduled for delivery by March 31, 2026, alongside a new five-star hotel.
* Health & Education: The state has renovated 760 schools and built 10 fully equipped general hospitals, with Lawal boasting that Zamfara is now the highest-paying state for medical doctors in Nigeria to curb brain drain.
The Mineral Wealth Question
Governor Lawal also touched on the vast untapped potential of Zamfara, specifically its gold and lithium deposits. He lamented that the daily informal trade of gold in the state is worth approximately $1 million, yet none of this revenue reaches the government coffers due to the insecurity and lack of formalization.
As the 2027 political cycle approaches, Governor Lawal’s blunt assessment of the security situation places a spotlight on the federal government’s handling of the banditry crisis in the North West.
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