The Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has stated that the bandits terrorising communities in the state and across the Northern region are known to the government.
Governor Dauda Lawal explained that both his administration and the federal government are aware of who these bandits are, where they live, and even their family backgrounds.
He expressed regret that his administration has yet to uncover the ideology driving the bandits' actions.
Lawal noted that, unlike the Niger Delta militants who fought for economic recognition, and Boko Haram, which is motivated by religious beliefs, the bandits do not appear to be driven by any particular ideology.
During an interview with Arise TV on Tuesday, the Governor highlighted that the bandits primarily target poor farming communities rather than the government.
"Well, I suppose it all depends on classification. You could call them bandits, thieves, or whatever name you choose. But my concern is understanding the reason behind these banditry activities. That is the first issue. Second, if you consider the Niger Delta, there’s an economic justification for the fighting, as people are demanding certain rights. In the case of Boko Haram, it’s clear there’s a religious motivation, as they are fighting to defend their faith. But what is the cause in Zamfara? We are largely the same people, 99.9 per cent of us share the same religion. So what are they fighting for? This is the question we are still trying to answer because I simply can’t fathom it.
"And imagine, if they were targeting government officials, it might suggest they have grievances with the authorities, but they kill innocent people who can barely afford a single meal a day. What could possibly justify that? It’s madness. And that’s what we’re still working to understand. To deal with this issue, we need to decisively address these individuals," Lawal remarked.
When discussing the federal government’s efforts to tackle banditry in the state, Lawal acknowledged that the security agencies are making efforts.
The Governor of Zamfara emphasised that the identities of the bandits are well known, though the reason why no decisive action has been taken against them remains unclear.
He commented, "The security challenge is not exclusive to Zamfara; it affects the entire northern region. However, Zamfara is a focal point for banditry, as these groups operate here and then spread to Katsina, Niger, Kaduna, Sokoto, and other areas.
"It is the federal government’s duty to ensure the safety of people, their lives, and property, which involves the military, police, and civil defence forces. They are doing their best.
"However, more needs to be done to deal with these criminals decisively. As I mentioned earlier, we know where these individuals are. We know where they live. We know their families. Of course, we do. They reside within the same communities as us."
When asked why action has not been taken, he continued, "That’s the million-dollar question we’re all asking. It’s something we are all trying to figure out. That’s why, from my position as Governor, I’ve initiated the Community Policing Group (CPG) as a first line of defence.
"Of course, we have the military, the police, and civil defence, but they are not under my control. They are under federal control, and they are doing their best. As I said, our security forces have the capacity to eliminate these criminals."
