By SUNTV Global Channel
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has defended his administration’s handling of insecurity, stating that he never promised to eliminate the security crisis immediately upon taking office but pledged to implement measures that would bring relief to residents.
Speaking during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, the governor said Zamfara was facing enormous challenges when he assumed office in 2023, particularly in security, education, healthcare, and other critical sectors.
According to Lawal, insecurity had plagued the state for more than a decade before his administration came into power. He maintained that despite ongoing challenges, significant progress has been recorded across several sectors.
“When I took over, Zamfara was in a very difficult situation. Insecurity had affected the state for over ten years, and we inherited numerous challenges. Today, anyone who visits the state can see visible improvements,” he said.
The governor highlighted the creation of the Zamfara Community Protection Guards, popularly known as Askarawa, as one of the key strategies introduced by his administration to complement the efforts of federal security agencies.
He explained that the guards were recruited from local communities in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), the police, and the military. The recruits reportedly underwent months of training before being deployed with weapons, vehicles, uniforms, and other operational equipment.
Lawal argued that the initiative has been effective because the operatives understand the terrain and communities better than external security personnel.
The governor claimed that security incidents across the state have reduced considerably since the introduction of the programme.
“I am not saying attacks have completely stopped, but the situation is not what it used to be. I would estimate that insecurity has reduced by about 60 percent,” he stated.
Responding to criticism from residents who say many farmers still struggle to access their farmlands safely, Lawal insisted that his campaign promise was never to end insecurity instantly.
“I never promised that insecurity would disappear immediately. What I promised was to take practical steps that would ease the suffering of our people, and by the grace of Allah, we have done that,” he said.
The governor maintained that while the fight against banditry and terrorism remains ongoing, his administration has recorded measurable gains through collaboration with federal security agencies and the deployment of community-based security personnel.
The remarks come amid continued concerns over security challenges in parts of Zamfara and the wider North-West region, where communities have faced years of attacks by armed groups and bandits.
