Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has called for stronger joint security operations across the Northwest, saying criminals who reject peace must face the full force of the law.
The Governor made the call on Wednesday in Gusau while declaring open a three-day Northwest Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Police Force at the Government House.
The summit, themed “Appraising the Security Challenges in the Northwest Region,” had in attendance the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, representatives of Northwest states, security and intelligence chiefs, traditional rulers, community leaders and civil society groups.
Lawal said Zamfara was the right location for the meeting because the state remains at the frontline of the security crisis affecting the region.
“This is significant because Zamfara remains at the frontline of the security challenges confronting the Northwest,” he said.
He noted that the crisis has moved beyond isolated crimes, with organised networks involved in banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling across state borders. According to him, the activities continue to threaten livelihoods, food security, education, investment and the social fabric of the region.
The governor also flagged thuggery, substance abuse and radical infiltration as emerging urban threats requiring coordinated responses.
“Our security must operate cohesively. Intelligence in Zamfara can prevent attacks elsewhere, and operations nearby can disrupt threats in Zamfara,” Lawal stated.
He urged security agencies to adopt real-time intelligence sharing, coordinated operations, inter-state surveillance, community policing, and sustained efforts to disrupt the financial and logistical networks of criminal groups.
Lawal challenged participants to leave the summit with practical solutions.
“We must, therefore, challenge ourselves to leave Gusau not merely with another diagnosis of insecurity, but with actionable options,” he said.
He further called for measures to restrict criminals’ movements by targeting their supply chains, including routes, markets, intermediaries and financiers.
Earlier, IGP Olatunji Disu said securing the Northwest was a collective responsibility due to the region’s strategic importance.
“We are combining states to tackle the issue of insecurity. We have come together, we police together, we share intelligence together,” he said.
“We have made up our minds to take the fight to these criminals.”
The IGP assured that the Police Force would continue to deploy personnel, capabilities and partnerships to secure the region, but stressed that policing would be most effective with community support
