Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, has stated that while his administration was making concerted efforts to tackle banditry, the ultimate fate of the state’s security rests in God’s hands.
Speaking to State House correspondents after a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House in Abuja, Governor Lawal said, “We are doing the best that we can to make sure we secure the lives and properties of our people… but it’s in the hands of God.”
His remarks came shortly after bandits killed a police officer and kidnapped several people, including an expatriate and construction workers, during an attack on the Tsafe-Funtua Road in Zamfara State.
Despite recent gains by security forces, which included the elimination of several terrorist leaders, Zamfara remained beset by banditry.
The state has been a hotspot for mass abductions, killings, and attacks on villages, particularly in rural areas, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes.
Governor Lawal acknowledged that the state government has faced challenges but remained determined to restore peace. “The reality is that the insecurity in Zamfara State has existed for the past 12 years, and as a responsible government, we are tackling it head-on,” he said.
He added, “We are doing the best that we can… but it’s an ongoing process.”
Lawal refrained from discussing specific security measures but noted that progress had been made, including the neutralisation of key bandit leaders.
“The security situation is not something I can discuss on camera,” he said, adding “But all I can say is, we are doing our best.”
On the political front, the governor also addressed the internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stating that all governors were committed to keeping the party united. “There is no political party without challenges,” Lawal said in Hausa language, dismissing claims that the PDP lacked leadership. “We are fully on the ground to ensure the party stands strong.”
Governor Lawal also highlighted the state’s efforts to empower young girls, describing progress in this area as “significant” and ongoing.
He said: “well, this is something that is very important, especially for a state like Zamfara, where we are at a disadvantage in terms of girl-child education. That is why we are giving it the top priority.
“If you look at the gifted children that I think about last month, you saw that Zamfara came second after Anambra. The majority of those were girls, that means also we are making significant progress in that area, and it will continue.”
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