Coalition Urges Support For Gov Lawal’s Security Reforms In Zamfara

A group, The Arewa Coalition for Peace, Reform and Good Governance has commended Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, for what it described as deliberate and reform-driven efforts to address the state’s lingering security challenges, insisting that the current administration inherited a fragile security architecture from previous governments.

In a statement, the group’s president, Alhaji Sadiq Mahmoud, said Governor Lawal should be supported rather than criticised for confronting an insecurity crisis that had festered for years.

Mahmoud said recent security incidents, including the suspected bomb explosion along the Yar’Tasha–Dansadau road in Maru Local Government Area, should be viewed within the context of long-standing governance failures that predated the Lawal administration.

“Governor Dauda Lawal did not create Zamfara’s insecurity. What the state is grappling with today is the result of years of neglect, poor policy decisions and short-sighted strategies that weakened institutions, empowered armed groups and normalised violence,” he said.

“Those demanding a return to old methods are ignoring history. The strategies previously deployed did not defeat banditry; rather, they emboldened criminal groups, encouraged the spread of weapons and left communities exposed. Zamfara’s insecurity did not begin under Governor Lawal,” Mahmoud stated.

According to the Coalition, the Lawal administration has adopted a more structured and sustainable approach to security, anchored on intelligence-led operations, collaboration with federal security agencies and efforts to rebuild trust between communities and the government.

The group said the governor has maintained regular engagement with security chiefs and traditional rulers, while also prioritising reforms aimed at addressing the economic and social drivers of violence.

Mahmoud further defended the governor against criticism over his movements outside the state, arguing that effective security leadership goes beyond physical presence and includes strategic coordination with federal authorities and relevant institutions.

“Security governance is not about theatrics. It is about coordination, planning and long-term solutions. Governor Lawal understands this and is working to reverse years of damage,” the statement said.

The coalition urged residents to remain patient and vigilant, noting that addressing a security crisis built over a decade would require time, consistency and collective support. It also cautioned against politicising insecurity or advancing narratives that absolve past leaders of responsibility.

As investigations continue into the Maru road incident, the group called for unity and cooperation with security agencies, stressing that lasting peace in Zamfara can only be achieved through accountable governance and sustained reform.