Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, says his administration is taking steps to improve how quickly security agencies respond to attacks, particularly in areas that have continued to face serious banditry and other security threats.
Lawal identified Tsafe Local Government Area as one of the state’s major security hotspots, citing the activities of suspected bandit leader Ado Alero and his gang.
Speaking during a media chat on Monday, the governor said the government was combining improved road access with technology, including drones, to strengthen surveillance and help security agencies respond faster when attacks occur.
Lawal said available data showed that the number of people being killed had reduced compared with the situation before 2023, although he acknowledged that attacks had not completely stopped.
“Everything is based on data. If you asked me this question a few years ago, compared to the number of people being killed on a daily basis prior to 2023, I will tell you the number is reducing significantly,” he said.
He added that Tsafe remained a critical concern because of the activities of Ado Alero and his gang.
“And what we did yesterday was to try to see how we improve our response time in the event that there’s any attack in any of those areas,” Lawal said.
Road Access Key to Faster Response
The governor said poor road conditions, particularly along the Tsafe-Yankuzo axis, have made it difficult for security personnel to reach communities quickly when attacks occur.
“That road from Tsafe to Yankuzo is a troublesome area. Whenever there’s any attack, it is very, very difficult for the security to be there within a time frame, and we feel that that road should be constructed,” he said.
According to Lawal, improving the road would significantly reduce the time it takes security personnel to reach affected communities.
“That way the response time will be quicker. It will be much faster than you can imagine,” he said, stressing that better access was an important part of tackling insecurity in the area.
Lawal also maintained that the frequency of attacks had dropped considerably compared with previous years.
“And I can tell you that it (attacks) has gone down drastically. In the past, almost on a daily basis, you hear that 200 people are being killed or a whole village is being wiped and so on and so forth. Go and check the data now; you hardly hear,” he said.
Drones to Monitor Difficult Areas
The governor acknowledged that pockets of attacks still occur, particularly in remote and ungoverned areas that become difficult to reach during the rainy season.
“There may be some pockets of attack in some of the ungoverned areas, and of course, like now, it’s rainy season,” Lawal said.
He explained that difficult terrain and poor access can delay security operations, making technology an important part of the state’s response strategy.
“Getting to some of those locations is extremely difficult, and that is why we employ the use of technology, like all these drones,” he said.
Lawal added that the drone system was still being improved but had already begun providing information that could help authorities understand what was happening in difficult-to-reach areas and determine the appropriate response.
“You know, we are perfecting the system, but we have started where at least we have information as to what is happening and what kind of response time do we need in the event there’s any attack in any of those areas,” he said.
Recent Security Incidents in Zamfara
Despite military counter-offensives and rescue operations, Zamfara has continued to record attacks affecting communities, security personnel and major transport routes.
In January, five soldiers and a police officer were killed in an ambush in Bungudu Local Government Area.
In February, attacks in Anka and Tsafe LGAs recorded a combined 41 deaths, with 30 people killed in Anka and 11 in Tsafe.
In April, suspected bandits attacked Kurfa community in Bukkuyum LGA and abducted an unspecified number of residents. Security forces later said they killed more than 30 suspected bandits during a counter-operation in Tsafe.
In May, an improvised explosive device exploded along the Bagega-Anka road, killing six people and injuring another six.
The violence continued in July when terrorists attacked the residence of the chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area. Two policemen, a vigilante and a civilian were killed, while the local government chairman was abducted.
In September, troops rescued 41 travellers who had been abducted after their commercial bus reportedly broke down along the Tsafe-Funtua Road.
The incidents have continued to highlight the security challenges faced by residents and travellers across parts of Zamfara, even as authorities and security agencies maintain operations aimed at reducing attacks and improving response capabilities.
