Zamfara Governor vows to tackle bandits in emergency meet

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has vowed to intensify security measures following a surge in deadly bandit attacks, convening an emergency meeting of top security officials to review strategies and protect communities.

The meeting, held on Friday at the Government House in Gusau, was chaired by Governor Lawal and attended by heads of all security agencies operating in the state. According to a statement from the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, the gathering focused on addressing the escalating insecurity and formulating a coordinated response to criminal activities.

Governor Lawal directed security chiefs to urgently reassess the state’s security architecture and implement joint operational strategies to counter emerging threats. He emphasized the need for heightened vigilance, improved intelligence gathering, and immediate, collaborative countermeasures to prevent further assaults on villages. The governor also mandated efforts to restrict the freedom of movement for criminal elements and to decisively neutralize threats in affected areas.

The emergency meeting was prompted by renewed violence, including a reported raid on Dutsin Dan Ajiya village in Anka Local Government Area on February 19. Residents described heavily armed assailants blocking access routes and opening fire during a prolonged attack, resulting in numerous fatalities, abductions, and persons missing. The governor also extended condolences to security personnel who have died or been injured in the line of duty, pledging continued logistical, operational, and institutional support to enhance their effectiveness.

This coordinated security meeting underscores the state government’s declared resolve to combat banditry, a persistent challenge in northwestern Nigeria. The administration’s stated commitment centres on a collective responsibility between state authorities and security agencies to safeguard lives and property across Zamfara. The outcomes of the meeting are expected to shape immediate operational deployments and longer-term security planning in the region.