Speaking during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service monitored in Gusau, the governor maintained that his government remains committed to supporting military operations and other security measures aimed at restoring peace and security in Zamfara.
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has reaffirmed his administration’s refusal to negotiate with bandit groups, insisting that lasting peace cannot be achieved through agreements with criminal elements responsible for years of violence across the state.
Lawal dismissed reports suggesting that recent truce arrangements in some parts of the state had the backing of his administration, stressing that any individuals or groups engaging bandits in peace talks were doing so independently and without government authorization.
According to the governor, his administration has consistently opposed negotiations with armed groups accused of killings, kidnappings, cattle rustling, and attacks on rural communities.
“Seeking a truce with bandits is not my position and never will be,” Lawal stated, reiterating his belief that criminals should be confronted through lawful security operations rather than dialogue.
The governor emphasized that the Zamfara State Government has not approved any form of peace agreement with bandit leaders, despite ongoing discussions in some communities affected by insecurity.
Lawal expressed confidence in the capacity of Nigeria’s security agencies to overcome the security challenges facing the state, noting that no criminal organization possesses the strength or resources to overpower the Nigerian state.
He commended the efforts of the Armed Forces, intelligence agencies, and other security personnel involved in ongoing operations against banditry, describing their recent offensives as encouraging signs in the fight against insecurity.
The governor further assured residents that his administration would continue collaborating with security agencies to protect lives and property while pursuing measures aimed at ending the cycle of violence that has plagued several local government areas of Zamfara.
For years, Zamfara has remained one of Nigeria’s worst-hit states by banditry, with thousands of residents displaced and several communities subjected to repeated attacks. While some stakeholders have advocated dialogue as a means of reducing violence, Lawal’s administration has consistently favored a military-led approach, arguing that negotiating with armed groups could embolden criminality and undermine the rule of law.
His latest remarks reinforce the state government’s hardline stance against banditry and signal continued reliance on security operations as the primary strategy for restoring peace across Zamfara State.
