Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has come under heavy criticism following a viral video in which he admitted knowing the locations of bandits terrorising the state but claimed he was powerless to act.
Speaking in Hausa in the clip, Lawal insisted that with full authority, he could end banditry within two months.
“I swear to God wherever bandits are, we know. I know, I can show you on this phone wherever they are… I know, but we can do nothing. If I am the one in power to give the directives, I swear this issue will come to an end in two months,” the governor said.
He lamented that despite procuring 150 vehicles for security agencies, he had no control over their deployment since directives must come from Abuja. Lawal further claimed to possess tracking devices capable of monitoring the daily movements of the criminals.
Since the remarks surfaced, the governor has faced mounting backlash from political and security circles. Critics described his words as reckless, self-indicting, and a betrayal of citizens who have endured years of violence.
A top government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the confession had shaken confidence at the highest levels of government.
“This is not just irresponsible; it is a slap in the face of Nigerians, especially the security forces. Here is a governor who has received billions in security votes yet goes on video to confess he is helpless. It is unacceptable,” the official said.
He added that Lawal’s failure to share actionable intelligence with the National Security Adviser, Department of State Services, or the military was deeply troubling.
Security experts also warned the comments could embolden bandits and further weaken citizens’ trust in government institutions. Dr. Usman Shehu, a Kaduna-based conflict researcher, described the remarks as “reckless at best and complicit at worst.”
“When a governor admits he knows the location of criminals but insists he is powerless, he undermines both the constitution and the morale of security operatives. It leaves ordinary citizens exposed and erodes the very essence of governance,” Shehu said.
Amid growing outrage, some officials are reportedly considering whether President Bola Tinubu should declare a state of emergency in Zamfara.
“The state is bleeding daily. Villages are being burnt, children abducted, and yet the chief security officer admits helplessness after pocketing billions in security votes. With this level of compromise, a state of emergency may be the only rational option,” another senior official argued.
Lawmakers from the state are also said to be consulting colleagues in Abuja about demanding a probe into the governor’s handling of security votes and his alleged withholding of intelligence.
Meanwhile, public anger has been fuelled by comparisons between the governor’s heavily armed convoy and the daily vulnerability of ordinary villagers in communities like Tsafe, Bukkuyum, and Kauran Namoda.
