The Coalition of Zamfara Civil Society Organization Forums has issued a statement condemning Governor Dauda Lawal for allegedly engaging in discussions with armed groups.
speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa service, Governor Lawal said dialogue with bandits was not entirely off the government’s table.
He said, “A number of people have been harmed, others have lost their parents and wives. Therefore, it is important to take into account their plight and mull over how to come to their aid, considering the losses they recorded, rather than always solely focusing on the bandits.”
The group’s spokesperson, Usman Khalid, highlighted what he described as hypocrisy in Lawal’s approach to security.
Khalid pointed out that Lawal had strongly opposed former Governor Bello Matawalle’s peace dialogue with bandits but now appears to be adopting a similar strategy.
During his 2022 campaign, Lawal fiercely criticized Matawalle’s negotiations, branding him the “Minister of State Defense for Bandits”.
He insisted that such dialogues had failed to curb insecurity and instead promised a tougher, more aggressive response to criminal groups.
However, as the next elections approach, reports suggest that Lawal is now engaging in talks with the same groups he once vowed to confront. This perceived shift in policy has sparked accusations of political opportunism and hypocrisy.
Last year, the Minister of Defence for State ,Dr Bello matawalle directed the Nigerian Army to eliminate bandit groups operating in Zamfara.
“Since the directive, peace has been restored, and thousands of bandits have been killed. Therefore, Dr. Matawalle deserves credit from the current governor, Dauda Lawal, because we are witnessing remarkable peace and going about our normal activities.”
The coalition accused Lawal of taking credit for this success despite not contributing financially or logistically to military operations.
“He forgets that he once claimed that the army and police belong to the federal government. Why is he now claiming success instead of thanking the President, the Minister of Defence, and the Nigerian Army?” the statement read.
The coalition further accused Lawal of attempting to deceive the people of Zamfara.
“Dauda Lawal thought he could manipulate the people of Zamfara with his campaign rhetoric. But now, he is doing the same thing he once attacked. Does he think Zamfara people are fools?”
Former Governor Matawalle, now serving as Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, defended his past negotiations, arguing that they were part of a broader security strategy.
His approach involved consultations with traditional leaders and Islamic scholars and was supported by the Federal Government under then-President Muhammadu Buhari. Similar peace efforts were also undertaken in Katsina and Borno States.
Khalid asserted that these efforts helped stabilize Zamfara, contrasting them with what he described as Governor Lawal’s failure to fulfill his campaign promises.
Governor Lawal’s apparent policy reversal has led to growing frustration among Zamfara residents. A local youth leader voiced the concerns of many:
“We cannot be manipulated again. Lawal criticized Matawalle for negotiating with bandits, but now he is doing the same. His failed campaign promises are now exposed.”
In response,Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has reaffirmed his administration’s firm stance against negotiating with bandits, emphasising that his government remained committed to an all-out offensive against criminal elements in the state.
A statement from the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, clarified that Lawal’s recent interview with the BBC Hausa service was deliberately misrepresented by certain media platforms to mislead the public.
According to Idris, the governor’s stance has remained unwavering because no responsible government negotiates with killers from a position of weakness.
He said, “The banditry issue has been a significant concern for people across Zamfara State, North-West, and the entire country for decades.
