Group Blames Gov. Lawal’s “Weak Leadership” for Zamfara Insecurity
A northern civic advocacy group, the Coalition for Safer North-West Communities (CSNC), has blamed the persistent insecurity in Zamfara State on what it described as the “lack of courage and gross administrative ineptitude” of Governor Dauda Lawal.
In a statement signed by its President, Alhaji Murtala Shehu Gusau, on Wednesday, the group said the worsening wave of kidnappings, killings, and banditry in the state reflects a failure of leadership at the highest levels of the state government.
According to CSNC, despite the deployment of military personnel and multiple interventions by the federal government, Zamfara remains one of the most dangerous places to live in Nigeria, largely due to the governor’s inability to take decisive action or coordinate an effective security response.
“We are alarmed by the continued deterioration of security in Zamfara State. After a critical assessment, we have no choice but to hold the state government accountable. Governor Dauda Lawal has shown a troubling lack of courage in the face of terror and has consistently failed to provide the kind of strategic leadership that inspires confidence among residents and security agencies,” the statement read.
The group said Zamfara’s rural communities have become “killing fields,” while residents of the state capital live in daily fear of abductions, despite repeated public assurances and press statements by the governor.
“It is not enough to issue press releases from Gusau. What the people need is real action. From Dansadau to Maru, Anka to Tsafe, farmers can no longer access their farmlands, women are being kidnapped in broad daylight, and children are growing up to the sound of gunfire,” said Alhaji Gusau.
CSNC further criticised the governor’s approach to security, describing it as inconsistent and poorly coordinated, with little collaboration with federal authorities, local leaders, or traditional institutions vital to community-based intelligence gathering.
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“Zamfara is bleeding, yet the state government seems more concerned with political propaganda than meaningful solutions. How many more lives must be lost before we see real seriousness? The governor must admit that his strategy—if there is one—has failed and make way for fresh thinking,” the group asserted.
The coalition also accused the Lawal administration of sidelining key stakeholders in the state’s security architecture, including traditional rulers, local vigilante groups, and federal security agencies, in an apparent attempt to centralise control it lacks the capacity to manage.
“We must stop pretending things are normal. The situation in Zamfara is a full-blown emergency. If Governor Dauda Lawal cannot demonstrate the will to lead in a crisis, then he must accept that leadership is not for him. Zamfara deserves more than photo-ops and empty meetings,” the statement added.
Alhaji Gusau said the CSNC’s position stems from its consistent engagement with affected communities, civil society groups, and humanitarian workers across the North-West, many of whom have raised concerns over the governor’s silence or delayed responses to critical security incidents.
The group also demanded transparency in the management of security funds, questioning how billions allocated in Zamfara’s state budget have been spent.
“We challenge the Zamfara State Government to publish a detailed breakdown of its security expenditures for 2023 and the first quarter of 2024. The public deserves to know how funds meant to protect lives have been utilized,” Alhaji Gusau declared.
CSNC called on the National Assembly—particularly lawmakers representing Zamfara—to conduct an independent assessment of the security situation and recommend a clear pathway to peace and stability.
“This is not the time for partisan silence. Zamfara’s future is at stake. We urge Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis and other representatives to raise their voices and ensure the suffering of our people is not ignored at the national level,” the statement said.
The group pledged to continue pressuring elected officials at both the state and federal levels until there is a meaningful turnaround in security and governance in Zamfara.
“We want peace—but peace will not come through platitudes. It demands bold leadership, integrity, and vision—qualities sorely lacking in the current state government. Governor Dauda Lawal must rise to the occasion or respectfully step aside for someone who can,” the statement concluded.
