Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has again highlighted the limitations faced by state governments in tackling insecurity due to the exclusive control of security forces by the Federal Government.
Speaking on the persistent threat of banditry, terrorism, and other criminal activities in Zamfara and other parts of the North-West, Lawal noted that the current arrangement leaves governors with little authority to direct or deploy security operatives during emergencies.
He described the situation as a major setback in efforts to protect lives and property, stressing that governors, who serve as chief security officers of their states, lack the operational control needed to respond swiftly to threats.
“The total federal control over the security architecture is a major constraint. Governors have very limited influence over security agencies in their states, and this weakens our ability to act decisively when bandits strike,” Lawal lamented.
The governor emphasized that decentralizing security control and granting states more authority would help close the response gap and ensure better coordination in the fight against banditry.
Lawal’s comments come amid renewed attacks by armed groups in Zamfara and neighboring states, where communities have continued to suffer killings, abductions, and displacement despite heavy federal deployments.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to exploring all lawful avenues to restore peace but maintained that without structural reforms in security control, state governments would continue to face serious limitations.
Sunday Buna Ibrahim is a seasoned journalist with Daily Frontier (dailyfrontier.com.ng), where he reports on security, conflicts, and humanitarian issues across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, particularly Plateau and Benue States. He also serves as a News Producer at Vision FM Radio in Abuja. Prior to joining Daily Frontier, he worked with Radio Nigeria, Fombina FM Yola in Adamawa State between 2019 and 2020.
