INSECURITY: Gov. dauda lawal meets president tinubu over banditry in zamfara

Governor Dauda Lawal engaged in a critical discussion with President Tinubu to address the escalating menace of banditry and associated criminal activities in Zamfara state.

The high-level meeting convened on Tuesday, held discreetly within the confines of the president’s office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

A statement issued by Sulaiman Bala Idris, spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor, unveiled that Governor Lawal extensively briefed President Tinubu on the precarious security situation in Zamfara, notably highlighting the resurgence of attacks in certain regions.

The statement further expounded on the dialogue between President Tinubu and Governor Lawal, where they deliberated on a spectrum of strategies and measures aimed at combating the insecurity. These encompassed bolstered security deployment, intensified intelligence gathering efforts, and the implementation of community engagement initiatives.

The meeting underscored the imperative to address the underlying root causes of the problem, notably poverty and unemployment, which have served as fertile ground for the proliferation of crime within the state.

Quoting Sulaiman Bala Idris, the spokesperson elucidated, “Today, Governor Dauda Lawal engaged in a pivotal discussion with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa to deliberate on critical matters pertaining to the security landscape in Zamfara State.”

“During the closed-door session, Governor Lawal apprised the President that over the past 13 years, Zamfara State has become a hotspot for banditry in Northwestern Nigeria.”

“The Governor appealed to President Tinubu for presidential intervention to equip the military with adequate personnel, weaponry, and logistical support, citing deficiencies in Zamfara. He also sought ample air support to complement ground forces.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in response, unequivocally pledged his unwavering commitment to furnishing all requisite support and logistical resources to the security apparatuses to ensure the restoration of tranquility in Zamfara.

Additionally, President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s steadfast stance against negotiating with bandits and acceding to ransom demands from kidnappers, deeming such actions as counterproductive and empowering to the perpetrators.