Tensions between the federal government and Zamfara State over security coordination have intensified, with the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, accusing Governor Dauda Lawal of deliberately sidelining him.
In a recent interview with DCL Hausa, Matawalle warned that any security operations in the state carried out without his involvement “will amount to nothing.” He alleged that Lawal bypassed him during a meeting in Abuja with the senior Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, despite Matawalle reportedly being available in his office. “I am the representative of Zamfara in the federal government,” Matawalle said. “He bypassed me to meet Badaru. I can tell you it will amount to nothing.”
The governor has repeatedly highlighted the severity of insecurity in Zamfara, claiming he knows the locations of bandit hideouts and could eliminate the threat within two months if the state had authority over security forces. Lawal accused on-ground security personnel of refusing to act without directives from Abuja, which he described as a major obstacle to protecting citizens. Over 23 villages across eight local government areas, including Shinkafi, Tsafe, Gusau, Anka, and Kaura-Namoda, have reportedly been attacked, forcing many residents to abandon farms, schools, and homes.
Despite state initiatives, such as recruiting Community Protection Guards and providing patrol vehicles, insecurity persists across affected areas.
Matawalle’s remarks also carry political undertones. He accused ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Zamfara of colluding with Governor Lawal to create divisions within the party, warning that those “sponsoring internal rifts” would soon be exposed. “APC is united. Anyone causing divisions is being sponsored by Dauda’s administration. We know who they are, we have all the evidence, and we will deal with them at the right time,” he said. He also claimed that Lawal is “afraid” of him, asserting that the governor references him in every action.
The standoff underscores a deeper issue: a fragmented security framework complicated by overlapping political interests and mutual distrust between state and federal authorities.
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