•Gov Lawal: With control over security agencies, I can end banditry in two months
President Bola Tinubu yesterday reviewed the security situation in the North-east geo-political zone, saying the efforts of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in curbing insecurity in the region had further reinforced his belief in the creation of state police.
This is coming on the heels of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) call on the President to declare a state of emergency in Northern Nigeria, citing the ‘extraordinary’ scale of insecurity and the government’s constitutional and international obligations to protect lives.
In the same vein, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara state has said that banditry would become history in his state in just two months if he had control over federal security outfits, stressing that he is aware of the movements of every bandit kingpin operating in the state.
Tinubu also commended the resilience and collaboration of governors in the North-east zone, noting that despite daunting security and developmental challenges, the region has recorded remarkable progress in stabilisation, resettlement, and social services.
“I have looked more carefully at the security situation. I see the efforts of civilian JTF and communities. This has again provoked my thinking on state police. We can work with the National Assembly to design a framework that guarantees local ownership while ensuring political neutrality,” the President declared.
Speaking while receiving members of the North-east Governors’ Forum led by Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, at the State House, Abuja, Tinubu said his administration had, in just two years, turned the economy around, supported resettlement of displaced persons, and prioritised infrastructure, health, and education.
“Our history since we came into office has been about facing challenges with determination. We campaigned, convinced Nigerians, and won elections. Ever since, we have confronted the realities of governance.
“Together, we can beat our chest that the economy has turned around and displaced citizens are returning to their homes under roofs provided by resettlement and housing programmes,” he said.
Particularly, the President lauded Yobe State for producing outstanding students despite disruptions and praised regional efforts in security, housing, and agriculture and also assured the governors of continued federal government’s support to consolidate the gains already made.
On food security, Tinubu highlighted his administration’s push for mechanisation saying that the nation is currently driving towards food sovereignty.
“Soon, each zone of Nigeria will have a training and maintenance centre for mechanised agriculture. This is the path to achieving food security,” he noted.
Besides, he stressed that despite distractions from early political manoeuvres, he remains “laser-focused” on governance and on delivering dividends of democracy.
NEF urges Tinubu to declare state of emergency in North
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Northern Nigeria, citing the ‘extraordinary’ scale of insecurity and the government’s constitutional and international obligations to protect lives.
The forum lamented that state security agencies remain overstretched, under-resourced, and in some cases complicit through inaction, leaving citizens vulnerable while eroding public trust in government.
In a communiqué signed by the spokesperson of NEF, Prof. Abubakar Jiddere, the forum expressed grave concern over the spate of violent attacks, abductions and killings across the region, warning that continued inaction could threaten Nigeria’s stability and regional peace.
The NEF recalled the August 19 attack on a mosque in Unguwan Mantau village, where armed assailants killed at least 27 worshippers during early morning prayers, leaving several injured and displacing hundreds
The prolonged insecurity in Northern Nigeria remains one of the country’s most pressing challenges, marked by a mix of violent extremism, banditry, communal clashes, and farmer-herder conflicts.
“In light of the above disturbing concerns, the Northern Elders Forum calls upon the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently fulfill its constitutional responsibilities and international obligations by: Declaring a State of Emergency in Northern Nigeria, acknowledging the extraordinary scale of the crisis,” the communiqué stated.
Over the past decade, the region has been destabilised by the Boko Haram insurgency and its splinter group, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), which continue to stage attacks, particularly in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
Beyond insurgency, large parts of the North-west and North-central zones face widespread banditry, with armed groups engaging in mass abductions, cattle rustling, and attacks on rural communities, creating a humanitarian crisis and displacing thousands.
Despite government efforts, including military operations, peace dialogues, and security collaborations with neighbouring countries, progress has been uneven. The insecurity continues to undermine economic activity, discourage investment, disrupt education, and weaken social cohesion across the North.
Besides, NEF, in the statement, condemned the execution of 35 abductees in Zamfara State despite ransom payments, as well as two separate attacks in Kaduna State’s Kauru and Kudan LGAs, which left eight dead and eight others severely injured.
NEF said: “These incidents are not isolated cases, rather they are part of a persistent pattern of organised criminal violence and banditry that have claimed thousands of lives, displaced hundreds of thousands of citizens, undermined food security, economic cripple activity, and
Inflicted deep psychological and social trauma on individuals and several communities.
“The NEF observes with deep regret that the state security architecture remains inadequate, overstretched, and in some cases complicit through inaction and silence, leaving citizens vulnerable and helpless while eroding public trust in government institutions.”
Citing the 1999 Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, NEF argued that Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), states that the inherent right to life shall be protected by law, and no one shall arbitrarily be deprived of life.
“The recurring atrocities in Northern Nigeria constitute serious breaches of these obligations, and in their scale and persistence, will amount to crimes against humanity under international law and humanitarian cases,” it added.
As part of its demands, the forum urged the federal government to deploy adequately trained, armed, and equipped security forces with clear rules of engagement to protect civilian populations and secure international border regions.
In addition, it urged the government to: “Provide adequate compensation, rehabilitation, and humanitarian assistance to victims including displaced persons, in line with international humanitarian standards.
“Strengthen border control and regional cooperation with neighbouring states under ECOWAS and the African Union protocols, to stem cross-border incursions by armed criminal groups and “Engage international partners, including the African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN), for technical and humanitarian support.”
The NEF emphasised that continued inaction or insufficient responses to all the security challenges will not only exacerbate human suffering, but also jeopardise national cohesion, democratic sustainability, stability of the polity, and regional peace.
The elders forum called on the government to act immediately, decisively, transparently and in full alignment with Nigeria’s domestic and international obligations, pledging to continue monitoring developments while engaging stakeholders nationally and internationally to ensure urgent relief for affected Northern communities.
Badaru says terrorists exploiting porous borders to wreak havoc
Still on insecurity in the North, the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, yesterday said that terrorists were exploiting porous borders, weak governance, and deep socio-economic disparities to wreak havoc in West Africa and the Sahel region, stating that modern-day terrorism has assumed a more complex and dangerous character.
Declaring open the Regional Conference on “Combating Emerging Terrorist Groups and Strengthening Sustainable Security in the ECOWAS Region and the Sahel” – organised by the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA) in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, the minister also noted that terrorism has become one of the greatest threats to peace and stability in West Africa and the Sahel.
He stressed that terrorism takes root in communities where grievances are left unaddressed and spreads through ungoverned spaces where institutions are absent.
While acknowledging that these realities are stark, the minister emphasised that they do not define the region’s destiny. Rather, he stated that they are challenges that governments must confront collectively with determination, innovation, and solidarity.
He said: “We are dealing with adversaries who are adaptive, highly networked, and increasingly sophisticated in their methods. Their collaboration with international terrorist organisations has created a web of instability that stretches across borders. They exploit encrypted communication platforms, deploy unmanned aerial systems, and radicalise vulnerable youth online.
“This evolution underscores the urgency of our meeting today. Terrorism, insurgency, and insecurity are not abstract threats – they are existential challenges that endanger our people, our economies, and our shared future.
“This conference is therefore more than an opportunity for dialogue; it is a call to action. We are gathered here to forge consensus, mobilise resources, and design strategies that are both proactive and region-specific. The future stability of ECOWAS and the Sahel will depend on the decisions we take here – and the commitments we follow through afterwards.”
Proferring workable solutions, the minister said the operationalisation of the ECOWAS Standby Force must be pursued with renewed vigour.
He added: “Harmonisation of legal frameworks across member states will ensure that terrorists and their support networks find no safe haven. The creation of a regional counterterrorism task force, fully trained and equipped for rapid deployment, is an initiative we must embrace.
“At the same time, capacity building is essential. Our forces require not only modern equipment but also advanced training to meet the evolving challenges of counterterrorism. Thirdly, we must address the root causes of radicalisation. Military force is necessary but not sufficient.
“Poverty, unemployment, exclusion, and poor governance provide fertile ground for extremist ideologies. Investing in education, strengthening community resilience, and ensuring good governance are equally critical to our long-term security. Winning the hearts and minds of our populations will deny extremist groups the local support they seek to exploit.”
In his welcome address, the National Coordinator of the NCTC, Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, stressed that these groups are not only multiplying but also exploiting digital spaces and new technologies to fight, radicalise, and recruit—especially among the youth.
This evolving threat, Laka said, demands that the region match their adaptability with resilience, innovation, and stronger collaboration across borders.
Noting that sustainable security is not solely about military action but about winning hearts and minds, restoring trust in governance, and investing in human development, Laka stated that it is in this spirit that Nigeria established the NCTC under the Office of the National Security Adviser, to coordinate the country’s counterterrorism efforts.
Gov Lawal: I can end banditry in two months with control over security agencies
Besides, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara state has said that banditry would become history in his state in just two months if he had control over the security outfits in the country, stressing that he is aware of the movements of every bandit kingpin operating in the state.
In a viral video clip, the governor explained that his major constraint in the ongoing fight against banditry is the lack of direct control over security agencies.
He emphasised that the security chiefs in the state only take orders from Abuja, lamenting that although the state has dozens of tracking facilities which it has fixed across the state just to help security in tracking the bandits, it still has limitations.
“I swear to Almighty Allah, wherever a bandits’ leader is located within Zamfara state, I know it and if he goes out, I know. With my mobile phone, I can show you where and where these bandits are today. But we cannot do anything beyond our powers.
“If today, I have the power to give orders to the security agencies, I can assure you, we will end banditry in Zamfara state within two months. Most of the time, I shed tears for my people because I can see a problem but because I don’t have control over the security agencies, I cannot order the security operatives to act in time.
“There was a time, the bandits invaded Shinkafi local government and I was sitting here when the security operatives were alerted but they refused to go to Shinkafi simply because they were not given orders from Abuja. This is the problem we are facing but we trust God and surely, He will come to our rescue,” he added.
The governor lamented that despite these challenges, the state government has continued to support security agencies with logistics and running costs, adding that records are available for anyone who wishes to verify.
He further recalled that about two months ago, the Zamfara state government distributed 150 patrol vehicles to the security agencies including police, army, the Department of State Service (DSS) and civil defence with a view to helping them improve in doing their jobs.
The governor added that apart from the thousands of personnel recruited as Community Protection Guards (CPG), his administration had also hired over 2,000 local hunters from Borno and Yobe and brought them into Zamfara to complement the conventional security operatives fighting banditry in the state.
“I am doing all these despite the fact that I have no control over the security agencies. But because it’s my responsibility to protect the lives and properties of the people of Zamfara as the chief security officer of the state.
“I have said it on several occasions that if the bandits are fighting because they lack some basic needs, I will provide them with whatever they lack; if they are lacking water I will provide them with water, if they are lacking schools, I will build schools for them just to have peace in the state,” he said.
He said that despite the challenges his administration faces in tackling banditry, he would not relent in his efforts to end the menace, while appealing to the people of the state to be patient as the government continues to do all it can to address the problem.
He further lamented that the major problem was the politicisation of the banditry issue in Zamfara State by certain individuals.
“I want to remind those undermining our efforts in the fight against banditry that their actions are destroying the state, not Dauda Lawal as governor,” he stated.
Lawal recalled that during the just concluded bye-election, a large number of soldiers and other security personnel were deployed to the state with all sorts of war equipment to cover an election that took place in six wards. -ThisDay
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