Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, says his administration is taking steps to strengthen security operations and reduce the time it takes for security personnel to respond to attacks across the state.
Lawal said the measures include improving road access to vulnerable communities and expanding the use of technology, particularly drones, to monitor difficult-to-reach locations and provide security agencies with timely intelligence.
The governor made this known on Monday during a media chat while discussing the security situation in Zamfara.
He identified Tsafe Local Government Area as one of the state’s major security flashpoints, citing the activities of suspected bandit leader Ado Alero and his group.
Lawal said available security data showed that the level of killings in the state had reduced compared with the situation before his administration came into office in 2023.
He, however, acknowledged that attacks continue to occur in some remote areas, particularly communities that become difficult to reach during the rainy season.
According to the governor, poor road conditions along the Tsafe-Yankuzo route have affected the ability of security personnel to reach communities quickly when attacks occur.
He said the state government was therefore prioritising the construction of the road to improve access and enable faster deployment of security forces.
Lawal said better road infrastructure would form part of the broader strategy to address insecurity, particularly in communities located along the Tsafe-Yankuzo axis.
The governor also said the state was increasingly relying on surveillance technology to track developments in areas where physical access remains difficult.
He explained that the deployment of drones was still being improved but had already begun providing security authorities with information that could help determine the appropriate response to emerging threats.
Lawal maintained that while insecurity had not been completely eliminated, the frequency and scale of attacks had declined significantly compared with previous years.
Recent Security Challenges
Zamfara has continued to face attacks linked to banditry and other forms of insecurity despite ongoing military operations across the state.
In January, five soldiers and a police officer were killed in an ambush in Bungudu Local Government Area. Another attack in July on the residence of the Bungudu LGA chairman reportedly resulted in the deaths of two policemen, a vigilante and a civilian before the chairman was abducted.
In February, attacks in Anka and Tsafe LGAs reportedly left 41 people dead, with 30 fatalities recorded in Anka and 11 in Tsafe.
Suspected bandits also attacked Kurfa community in Bukkuyum LGA in April, abducting residents, while security forces later reported killing more than 30 suspected bandits during a counter-operation in Tsafe.
In May, an improvised explosive device detonated along the Bagega-Anka road, killing six people and injuring six others.
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 facing communities and major transport routes across Zamfara State.
