We Give DSS, Police Bandits’ Locations — But They Don’t Act!” – Gov. Lawal Cries Out

He revealed that his administration uses drones and other advanced technologies to monitor the movements of suspected criminals, with real-time intelligence shared with the Police, Military, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. However, he alleged that such information is often not treated with urgency.

According to the governor, despite having surveillance systems capable of tracking bandits’ movements, security agencies have not consistently responded decisively, allowing attacks to continue. He expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of readiness by the authorities to confront the threat effectively.

Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, Lawal stated that many of the terrorists operate within local communities, but security forces have not aggressively pursued them, creating the impression that they are stronger than the state.

“If you follow my interviews on insecurity, I’ve always said we are not ready. With technology, we can track every movement of bandits through satellites and drones. The information is shared in real time with the police, military, DSS, and Civil Defence. But it doesn’t appear to be their priority, and that is frustrating. With the right tools, these criminals can be neutralised. They live among us. How can a bandit or terrorist be more powerful than the state? It shouldn’t be so,” he said.

Governor Lawal also disclosed that he has personally briefed President Bola Tinubu on the situation, claiming that the full reality of insecurity in Zamfara and parts of Kaduna is not being accurately presented at the federal level.

“I met the President and told him clearly what needs to be done. I said they are not giving you the correct picture,” he stated.

Despite the ongoing challenges, the governor said his administration remains committed to addressing insecurity, stressing that failure to prioritise actionable intelligence could continue to undermine efforts to restore peace in Zamfara and neighbouring states like Kaduna.