The Nigerian military authorities have confirmed that nine soldiers and seven other security personnel have lost their lives in operations aimed at addressing the surge of kidnapping and banditry in Zamfara State since the commencement of June 2024.
The revelation follows remarks made by Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, earlier this week, criticizing the perceived apathetic stance of the police and military, attributing it to the establishment of the state-owned security outfit, ‘Community Protection Guards’.
Speaking on a Channels TV program about what he described as the “laidback attitude” of security forces towards combating banditry in the state, Governor Lawal highlighted, “We, as governors, don’t have control over the military; we don’t have control over the police as well as the civil defence. In most cases, we get frustrated.”
He expressed frustration with the lack of responsiveness from security agents, stating, “Sometimes, when you’re really helpless, when you need them (security agents), they are not there. Even when they are there, they are given certain instructions on what to do and not what to do. So the best thing to do is to set up that kind of security outfit.”
Governor Lawal also underscored the perceived absence of political will to decisively address the situation, alleging, “In two weeks, we can take care of the situation, but the political will are not there. We know who they (bandits) are. We know where they live. It’s just that there is no political will.”
Drawing attention to the gravity of the security challenges in Zamfara State, the governor emphasized the need for urgent action, stating, “Zamfara State has become the hub of banditry in Nigeria. If you are able to take care of Zamfara today, you have solved more than 90% of the issues in northern Nigeria as a whole.”
Despite facing opposition in the form of banditry and kidnapping across all 14 local governments in the state, Governor Lawal maintained his resolve to govern effectively, asserting that certain individuals are attempting to undermine his authority.
In response to the governor’s comments, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, emphasized that the Defence headquarters operates within the directives of the nation’s political leadership and the constitution and refrained from engaging in a public rebuttal.
Notwithstanding these challenges, the military has been actively engaged in various operations to combat terrorists in Zamfara State, an area identified by Governor Lawal as a major hotspot of banditry in the North West region.
Major General Buba highlighted the sacrifices made by security personnel, revealing, “Nine soldiers have been killed in this month of June alone while fighting terrorists in Zamfara State, and from our records, seven personnel from other agencies have also been killed this June. So the military is not relenting.”
In the face of these security threats, the task of restoring peace and security in Zamfara State remains a pressing concern for both the state government and security forces as they work towards addressing the prevailing challenges effectively
