Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has vowed that bandits who reject peace and continue to threaten innocent citizens will face the full...
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has vowed that bandits who reject peace and continue to threaten innocent citizens will face the full consequences of the law.
Lawal made the position known on Wednesday while declaring open a three-day Northwest Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Police Force and hosted by the Zamfara State Government at the Government House, Gusau.
According to a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the summit, themed “Appraising the Security Challenges in the Northwest Region,” was attended by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, representatives of Northwest states, heads of security and intelligence agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and civil society organisations.
The governor commended the Inspector-General of Police and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force for convening the summit and choosing Zamfara as its host.
Lawal said Zamfara remained at the frontline of the security challenges confronting the Northwest, making the state an appropriate setting for stakeholders to assess the situation and develop practical solutions.
He said the region’s security crisis had gone beyond isolated criminal activities, alleging that organised networks were involved in banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling across state boundaries.
According to the governor, the activities threaten livelihoods, food security, education, investment and the social fabric of communities, while urban areas also face challenges including thuggery, substance abuse and radical infiltration.
Lawal called for a coordinated security approach across the Northwest, stressing that criminal networks operate across state boundaries.
“Our security must operate cohesively. Intelligence in Zamfara can prevent attacks elsewhere, and operations nearby can disrupt threats in Zamfara,” he said.
He called for stronger mechanisms for real-time intelligence sharing, coordinated operations, inter-state surveillance and community policing, as well as sustained efforts to disrupt the financial, logistical and supply networks sustaining organised crime.
The governor urged participants at the summit to ensure that the meeting produced concrete measures rather than another assessment of the region’s security challenges.
“We must, therefore, challenge ourselves to leave Gusau not merely with another diagnosis of insecurity, but with actionable options,” Lawal said.
He also challenged security stakeholders to consider ways of disrupting criminal supply chains, restricting the movement of criminals across forests, communities and borders, protecting vulnerable corridors without affecting legitimate commerce, and identifying and dismantling networks of informants and facilitators.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, described the security of the Northwest as a collective responsibility, noting the region’s importance to Nigeria.
Disu said the police were working with the states through joint operations and intelligence sharing to confront insecurity.
“We are combining states to tackle the issue of insecurity. We have come together, we police together, we share intelligence together,” the IGP said.
He said the police had resolved to intensify the fight against criminals operating in the region, adding that the summit was part of efforts to strengthen the collective response.
The IGP assured that the Nigeria Police Force would continue to deploy its capabilities, personnel and partnerships to secure the Northwest and support state governments and other security agencies.
He, however, stressed that effective policing also depended on the cooperation of residents.
“Policing is most effective when it is supported by the people,” Disu said.
No comments