News
I know where every bandit leader is in Zamfara – Gov Lawal
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has stated that, if granted direct authority over security forces, he can eliminate banditry in the state within a two-month period.
In a widely circulated video released on Wednesday, the governor became emotional while describing recent violent attacks.
He identified the main challenge in resolving the security crisis as the fact that security personnel in Zamfara currently take orders from the federal government in Abuja rather than the state administration.
Lawal emphasized that his intimate knowledge of the local geography and the locations of criminal leaders would enable him to quickly dismantle the bandit networks if he were empowered to command security agencies.
He stated, “I know the exact locations of every bandit leader in Zamfara, even from my phone. I can show you where they are right now. However, I do not have control over the security forces, and that is the core issue.”
READ ALSO: How victims paid ransom through Defence Minister – Zamfara governor
The governor referenced a recent massacre in Shinkafi Local Government Area where many lives were lost, explaining that security operatives on site refused to intervene because they were awaiting directives from Abuja.
“People were under attack, and despite my repeated calls to security agencies, they said they were waiting for orders from Abuja. How can I protect my people under such circumstances?” he expressed with frustration.
Despite these limitations, Lawal highlighted that his government has continued to provide logistical support and funding to security personnel. He revealed that 150 patrol vehicles have been distributed among the police, military, Department of State Services, and civil defence units. Additionally, thousands of Community Protection Guards and over 2,000 hunters from Borno and Yobe States have been recruited to assist in combating the bandits.
He also stressed the importance of tackling the underlying causes of rural violence, noting efforts to improve access to water, education, and other essential services, which he believes will foster peace.
The governor accused political rivals of exploiting the insecurity for personal gain, warning that such actions are detrimental to the wellbeing of Zamfara’s citizens.
“The politicization of insecurity does not harm me personally; it is the people of Zamfara who suffer. Some individuals do not want us to succeed, but I will persist,” he declared.
Lawal pointed to the heavy security presence during a recent by-election in the state as evidence that resources are available but are being prioritized for political events rather than protecting lives.
While Boko Haram and its offshoot ISWAP have terrorized Nigeria’s North-East for over ten years—resulting in more than 35,000 deaths and displacing over two million people—the North-West faces a distinct but equally severe security challenge.
In states like Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Sokoto, armed groups originally involved in cattle rustling have evolved into heavily armed gangs conducting mass kidnappings and raids on rural communities.
Zamfara has been particularly hard hit, with widespread abductions, killings, and attacks forcing many residents to flee their homes and farmers to abandon their fields.
Notably, in February 2021, approximately 300 schoolgirls were abducted in Jangebe, Zamfara, and in December 2020, over 300 schoolboys were kidnapped in neighboring Katsina. These incidents drew international attention to Nigeria’s escalating insecurity.
Governor Lawal’s plea coincides with ongoing discussions by President Bola Tinubu and the National Economic Council regarding the creation of state police forces—a reform long advocated by governors in states plagued by violence.
His statements reflect the frustration of state leaders who face increasing demands from their citizens but lack control over security operations.
For Zamfara’s residents, where villages are being emptied by armed groups and agricultural activities are stalling, the governor’s claim that he could end banditry within two months if empowered offers both hope and highlights the constraints of Nigeria’s centralized security system.
Since taking office in May 2023, Lawal has consistently called for the establishment of state police, echoing President Tinubu’s recent support for the initiative.
Advocates argue that local police forces would allow state governments to directly address their security challenges, while opponents caution against potential political misuse.
Nafiu Bala Gombe, the man on whose behalf the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is currently in a prostrate state, has admitted to getting outside help in prosecuting his legal matters against the David Mark camp.
Recall that Mark, former Senate President and Rauf Aregbesola were, last week, derecognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and had their names struck out based on the case filed by Gombe on September 2, 2025.
The commission had relied on the pronouncement of the Court of Appeal, which ordered parties in the case to maintain status quo ante bellum, which it interpreted to mean that it should not deal with either side.
Against the backdrop of the dust the matter had raised across the country, the embattled ADC leadership, had accused the former Deputy Chairman of being sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to play the spoiler role to enable President Bola Tinubu have no challenge in the 2027 presidential election.
Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the Mark camp, had last week, stated this much when he wondered how Gombe, who on his own could not afford an ordinary lawyer, going by his financial status, would now be hiring more than three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to represent him, which would probably run into tens of millions of naira.
Reacting on Tuesday, Gombe admitted getting outside help, but added that such assistance was not coming from government quarters or the APC, but from public-spirited individuals and Nigerians averse to the injustice being meted out to him.
Abimuku Monday, spokesman to Gombe, who spoke during an appearance on Morning Briefs, a breakfast programme on Channels Television, on Tuesday, told his host: “Before now, they were saying these people are big weights and we’re light weights. Now, we’re suddenly being seen as human beings. Earlier, we were seen as nobodies – as boys who don’t have capacity to challenge this in court.
“They say Nafiu Bala does not even have money to pursue his case. You see, that’s how they reduce people by their own estimation. They don’t find out who people. They have forgotten that for you to seek legal actions, there are so many ways to go about it.
“It is either you use your own money or your personal relationship with people. Does it mean that somebody in politics cannot have his own friends or cannot have lawyers as his friend or cannot have other members of the society as his friends.
“These are not members of the APC. They don’t belong to any party. They’re citizens of this country, who mean well for Nigeria. Nobody is scuttling the coalition. The fact remains that if you have a challenge, people will rally around you knowing it’s a good cause you’re fighting. People will rally around you to give you the necessary support that you need. They even called my principal a small boy.”
Serah Luca, a Christian woman, has returned N1 million she unknowingly took along with goods purchased from a trader at Terminus market in Jos, Plateau state capital.
Luca, a petty trader, reportedly said she made the purchase on Friday and only discovered the hidden cash after getting home.
She said her decision to return the money was driven by fear of God and her belief that she could not keep what did not belong to her, especially knowing the hardship that comes with losing money in business.
“I am a petty businesswoman. I know what it means to suffer loss. If I put that kind of money into my business, I believe God would punish me,” Daily Trust quoted her as saying.
The trader, Abubakar Dola, who deals in polythene bags at Terminus market, expressed surprise at the woman’s honesty, noting that he had no idea where the money went after mistakenly placing it inside the bag she bought.
Dola said he had planned to transfer the cash through a point of sales (POS) operator but became worried when he could not see the polythene bag where the money was kept.
“I mistakenly included it in what she bought. I didn’t realise until days later, and I had already given up hope. For her to return it after three days is remarkable. I pray Allah rewards her and gives us more people like her.”
“The entire country could be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night,” were the words with which US President Donald Trump, flashed the redlight signal over what could be the fate of Iran in the coming hours, after a month-old war, which saw leaders of the Islamic nation, all but totally obliterated.
The POTUS, who on Saturday, gave Iran 48 hours to to open the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic approaches, or comply or risk facing “hell,” later threatened that the US would blow up Iran’s power plants and bridges if Tehran failed to adhere to his warning.
However, in his latest threat on Monday, Trump told reporters that Iran had until Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET (1 am WAT) to make a deal, adding: “We have a plan, because of the power of our military, where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business – burning, exploding and never to be used again, I mean complete demolition – by 12 o’clock. And it’ll happen over a period of four hours if we want it to. We don’t want that to happen.”
Nafiu Gombe: Yes, I have sponsors! *I can’t fight ADC big men alone!
Woman returns N1million discovered in purchased items to owner
Strait of Hormuz: Comply now or you’ll be history – Trump warns Iran
-
News2 weeks agoGovernor weeps, as terrorists kill soldiers, police in night ambush
-
Columns5 days agoSeun Okinbaloye saga: How does Tinubu survive if Wike resigns?
-
News4 weeks ago2027: Ndigbo will rely on numerical strength – Okorie *Mobilises 35million Igbo votes
-
News2 weeks agoBREAKING: Bloody day in Ibadan! *Trailer loses control, crushes residents!
-
News4 weeks agoUS must finish the job in Iran – Trump *We aren’t leaving yet!
-
News4 weeks agoNobody can question my democratic integrity in Nigeria – Tinubu
-
News1 week agoBREAKING: INEC can’t stop us – ADC *Vows to go ahead with congresses
-
News3 weeks agoTinubu to terrorists: No place to hide! *We’ll smoke you out and defeat you!