The Real Reason Bandits Are Evading Arrest—and Governor Lawal’s New Proposal to Stop Them!
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, wants his colleagues in the north west to form a high level intelligence sharing strategy to tackle ravaging insecurity in the region
He is also proposing the establishment of joint security operations to combat the escalating security challenges plaguing the North West region.
Governor Lawal made the declaration during his address at the 2026 Nigeria Police Force North West Security Summit, held at the Government House Hall in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.
A Unified Front Against Crime
Speaking to an audience of regional security chiefs, experts, and traditional rulers, Lawal emphasized that the security crisis can no longer be treated as isolated state issues. He advocated for a unified, cross-border approach, focusing on: Inter-state surveillance to track criminal movements across borders.
Among the proposals are community policing initiatives to leverage local intelligence, logistical support to starve organized crime networks of resources, and financial tracking to disrupt the funding sustaining bandits.
“This summit is timely,” Governor Lawal stated. “It places the security challenges of the North West at the center of our regional discussions. We must implement practical strategies that deliver quick, sustainable solutions to protect our people.”
Police Leadership Calls for Political Will
Echoing the governor’s sentiments, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, stated that neutralizing threats in the North West requires a highly coherent, intelligence-driven regional response. The IGP stressed that strategic victory depends on strong institutions capable of enforcing the law, effective coordination between federal and state actors, and unwavering political will from all regional leaders to confront criminal elements head-on.
The Path Forward
The summit, themed “Appraising the Security Challenges in the North West,” serves as a critical diagnostic platform. Participants from all seven North West states are expected to draft an actionable blueprint to dismantle banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism networks.
