Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has reaffirmed that his administration will not engage in negotiations with bandits, insisting that security operations against criminal groups will continue until they surrender or are brought to justice.
The governor’s position was conveyed by his Chief of Staff, Mukhtar Musa, during the inauguration of the Association of Zamfara State Indigenes Residing in Kaduna Secretariat.
Musa said the state government remains committed to tackling insecurity through close collaboration with security agencies, adding that it will continue providing logistics, equipment, ammunition, and other operational support to security personnel combating criminal activities across the state.
According to him, individuals involved in banditry have only two options—surrender peacefully or face the consequences of the law—as the government has ruled out any form of dialogue with armed groups.
He also urged residents to support security efforts by providing timely and credible intelligence on suspicious movements, stressing that community cooperation is essential to restoring lasting peace in Zamfara.
Speaking on the occasion, Musa described the inauguration of the association’s secretariat as a significant achievement that reflects the unity of Zamfara indigenes living outside the state. He assured members that Governor Lawal would visit the association in the future and announced a ₦5 million donation from the state government to support its activities.
Earlier, the Chairman of the association, Garba Balarabe, described the opening of the secretariat as a landmark achievement, noting that it would serve as a hub for coordination, welfare, and unity among members.
He disclosed that the association distributed 280 bags of 10kg rice, vegetable oil, and spaghetti to vulnerable members as part of its welfare programme. He also appealed to the Zamfara State Government to assist the association in securing a permanent office in Kaduna.
The Chairman of the event, Zamfara State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abdulrahman Tumbido, praised the association’s humanitarian efforts and expressed optimism that peace would eventually return to Zamfara despite the security challenges that have forced many residents to relocate.
Other speakers at the event called for stronger unity among Zamfara indigenes, continued support for women and other vulnerable groups, and wider accessibility of the association’s constitution by translating it into the Hausa language.
The ceremony attracted government officials, traditional rulers, politicians, community leaders, and members of the association from Kaduna, Abuja, and other parts of the country.
