Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State expressed frustration over the lack of political will to eradicate banditry in the state and country.
He lamented that the police and military have been lackadaisical in their efforts to combat the menace, which has led to the proliferation of kidnapping-for-ransom activities in the state.
According to Governor Lawal, who appeared on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, the situation would be resolved in two weeks if there was a genuine political will to tackle the issue.
He attributed the creation of the state’s security outfit, Community Protection Guards, in January to the uninspiring attitude of Federal Government-controlled security agencies.
The governor acknowledged that as governors, they do not have control over the military, police, and civil defence agencies, which often leaves them feeling helpless.
He emphasized that the state security outfit could have been more effective if it had been given a constitutional backing.
Governor Lawal revealed that he had met with President Bola Tinubu to express his concerns about the saboteurs undermining security efforts in Zamfara State. He said that the President had assured him that steps would be taken to address the challenges.
The governor also highlighted that Zamfara State has become a hub for banditry in Nigeria, and that resolving the issue would have a significant impact on addressing security challenges in northern Nigeria as a whole.
Furthermore, Governor Lawal discussed the limitations faced by state-led security outfits in their efforts to complement federal security agencies.
He noted that these outfits lack the necessary licenses to bear assault rifles and superior weapons to confront deadly insurgents and criminals, but expressed optimism that with a constitutional backing, these outfits would be able to live up to their full potential.
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