NEWS

ZAMFARA STATE GOVERNOR, DAUDA LAWAL SAYS THERE IS NO POLITICAL WILL TO FIGHT BANDITS 

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal has Security Agencies controlled by the Federal Government of having an “uninspiring attitude” in the fight against banditry in his domain.

He stated on Tuesday when he appeared on Channels' TV programme .

Dauda Lawal lamented the laid-back attitude of the Police and the Military in combating the menace of banditry which Zamfara has been devastated with.

He stated that unfortunate developments in the State informed creation of the State Security Outfit, Community Protection Guards in January.

“We, as Governors, don’t have control over the Military, we don’t have control over the Police as well as the Civil Defence. In most cases, we get frustrated.

“When you need these people, they are nowhere to be found and the best thing to do is to set up that kind of Security Outfit.”

The Governor equally alleged that there are a lot of political undertones to the security issues in the state.

“Sometimes, when you’re really helpless. When you need them (Security Agents), they are not there. Even when they are there, they are given certain instructions on what to do and what not to do,” he said.

He said the marauding bandits whose kidnapping-for-ransom trade was booming in the State could be strangulated in two weeks with the right political will.

“In two weeks, we can take care of the situation but the political will is not there,” - said he.

The Governor said he had met with all the Service Chiefs and cried for help to save the State but the political will had been missing in the fight against bandits, adding that the bandits as well as their places are well known.

The State has for ages suffered serial killings and abduction by bandits, a development that has led impoverished citizens - as they could no longer go to farm, tendered families homeless and forcing many to seek for safety elsewhere.