By Abubakar Yunusa
A civil society group, Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development (PAPSD), has accused Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, of exacerbating the state’s banditry crisis due to his refusal to collaborate with the Minister of State for Defence.
The group’s Executive Director, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, made this claim in a statement released on Tuesday.
According to Dr. Shinkafi, Governor Lawal’s lack of cooperation with military forces and the Defence Minister has worsened the banditry situation in the state, allowing criminals to operate freely.
“Governor Lawal’s refusal to support the military and cooperate with the Minister of State for Defence escalated the bandits’ siege in the state,” Shinkafi said.
In a recent appearance on Channels Television’s program Politics Today’ Governor Lawal described Zamfara as the “headquarters of banditry” and criticized the military for failing to take decisive action on time
However, Shinkafi argued that Governor Lawal’s leadership failures have contributed to the worsening security.
He highlighted the resignation of former Inspector General of Police, MD Abubakar, from the Board of Trustees of the Zamfara State Security Trust Fund, citing a loss of faith in the governor’s commitment to addressing the crisis.
“The governor has chosen to focus on discrediting his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, rather than taking meaningful action to combat banditry,” Shinkafi said, referring to Lawal’s public criticisms of Matawalle, who now serves as the Minister of State for Defence.
He noted that many Nigerians, including civil society groups, have urged Governor Lawal to stop targeting Matawalle and instead concentrate on restoring security in the state.
In response to mounting pressure, Governor Lawal recently reconstituted the Zamfara State Security Trust Fund’s Board of Trustees and established a fundraising committee aimed at strengthening security efforts in the state.
Despite these steps, Shinkafi expressed disappointment, accusing Lawal of failing to deliver on his campaign promise to end banditry within 100 days of taking office. He urged the governor to focus on his duties, stating that the people of Zamfara deserve peace and good governance.
