Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has called for tougher action against bandits who reject peace efforts and threaten innocent citizens. The governor spoke in Gusau on Wednesday at a three-day Northwest Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Police and attended by Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu.
The summit brought together representatives of Northwest states, security and intelligence agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and civil society groups to assess the region’s security challenges. Lawal said insecurity in the Northwest has gone beyond isolated criminal activity, with organised networks involved in banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling across state borders.
“This reality demands moving beyond fragmented responses because criminal networks ignore state boundaries. Our security must operate cohesively”.
The governor called for stronger intelligence sharing, coordinated operations, inter-state surveillance and community policing, as well as sustained efforts to disrupt the financial, logistical and supply networks supporting criminal groups.
He also urged security agencies to focus on cutting off criminals’ supply routes, limiting their movement and dismantling networks of informants and facilitators. Lawal said the summit must produce practical solutions 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”.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, described security in the Northwest as a collective responsibility and said police authorities were working with state governments and other security agencies to confront criminal groups.
“We have made up our minds to take the fight to these criminals”.
Disu pledged continued deployment of police personnel and resources to secure the region, while stressing that effective policing also depends on the support and cooperation of local communities.
