The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency to ensure the success of efforts to combat banditry in the state.
In a statement signed by the party’s spokesperson, Yusuf Idris, the APC accused Governor Dauda Lawal of undermining the Federal Government’s fight against banditry. The party alleged that Lawal’s actions were politically motivated, aimed at preventing his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, from achieving success in the ongoing military operations.
According to the statement, the military’s recent operations against bandits in Zamfara, coordinated by the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, under President Bola Tinubu’s directives, have shown significant progress. The APC noted that bandit leaders who previously held sway in the region are now being overpowered.
The party expressed disappointment with Governor Lawal, accusing him of attempting to derail the military efforts through media campaigns designed to distract the Federal Government’s focus. It claimed that Lawal’s opposition stems from concerns that the success of these operations would hinder his political plans for 2027, which allegedly involve leveraging insecurity as a campaign tool.
The APC further alleged that Governor Lawal has not supported the military’s efforts with necessary logistics and has even been confrontational, with the military at one point warning him to stay away from their operations. The party believes that Lawal is unhappy with the success of the military operations because they are being led by his political rival, Matawalle.
The statement called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara, arguing that this would allow security forces to carry out their mission without interference from the state government. The APC also accused Lawal of falsely presenting himself as the sponsor of the military operations, despite having no role in their success.
In addition, the party criticized Governor Lawal for failing to address security issues since assuming office in May of the previous year. It claimed that Lawal has focused on attacking his predecessor, Matawalle, rather than cooperating with him to combat the banditry that has plagued the state.
The APC highlighted that Matawalle, as both the Minister of State for Defence and a Zamfara native, had extended offers to work with Lawal in addressing the security challenges. However, the party claimed that these offers were ignored, with Lawal instead launching baseless accusations against Matawalle.
The party concluded by praising the Federal Government’s resolve to eliminate banditry in the region, stating that President Tinubu’s directive for Matawalle to lead the military operations has been effective in weakening the bandits’ grip on the region. However, it noted that Governor Lawal has continued to politicize the issue, using media platforms to falsely claim credit for the military’s success.