A prominent northern civic organization has issued a stark call for the Federal Government to intervene in Zamfara State, leveling serious accusations of incompetence against Governor Dauda Lawal over his handling of the state's deteriorating security situation.
Northern Group Decries Worsening Security Crisis
The Northern Front for Peace and Accountability (NFPA) has publicly accused Governor Dauda Lawal of failing to contain the escalating insecurity plaguing communities and major highways across Zamfara. The group stated that persistent terror attacks have left residents living in constant fear and displacement.
In a statement delivered in Kaduna on December 30, 2025, the President of the NFPA, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi Kaura, painted a grim picture of life in the state. He declared that Zamfara's citizens are under siege, facing daily threats from increasingly bold armed groups.
"The people of Zamfara are under siege. Daily, innocent citizens are killed, abducted, or forced to flee their homes, yet the state government appears overwhelmed and largely absent," Kaura asserted. He emphasized that leadership in times of crisis requires presence, direction, and decisive action, qualities he claims have been notably missing.
Maru Road Explosion Highlights Broader Pattern of Violence
The group pointed to the recent suspected bomb explosion along the Yar’Tasha–Dansadau road in Maru Local Government Area as a tragic example of the weakening security coordination. This incident, where several travelers were feared dead, was cited not as an isolated event but as part of a troubling and recurrent pattern of violence.
According to the NFPA, attacks, abductions, and mass displacement have become frequent occurrences in recent weeks, creating deep uncertainty and eroding public trust. The organization also criticized reports suggesting Governor Lawal has spent extended periods outside the state, arguing that such absences have heightened public anxiety during a critical security moment.
Calls for Urgent Federal Oversight and Security Summit
The NFPA has called for immediate and decisive action to prevent a further collapse of safety in Zamfara. Kaura urged Governor Lawal to re-examine the security approach used during the tenure of former governor Abdul’aziz Yari, which he described as involving constant security consultations, visible leadership, and direct engagement with federal authorities.
"During the Yari years, there was a clear strategy... The governor was visible, security meetings were constant, and there was a sense that the government was actively confronting the problem. Zamfara needs that urgency again," Kaura stated.
The group proposed an emergency security summit that would bring together traditional rulers, community leaders, security agencies, and federal officials to coordinate a robust response. Furthermore, they urged the Federal Government to maintain close oversight of the situation in Zamfara, warning that unchecked violence could allow armed groups to establish permanent footholds.
"As citizens bury their dead and abandon their farms and roads, the question on everyone’s lips remains simple: Where is the government of Zamfara State, and when will it rise to its responsibility of protecting lives and property?" Kaura concluded.
This criticism comes despite Governor Lawal's previous bold claim, made during a live media chat in Gusau, that he possesses the intelligence to end banditry in Zamfara within two months if given direct control over security agencies. The governor had stated, "I can tell you the whereabouts of every bandit kingpin in Zamfara... But I do not control security agencies, and that is the problem." The NFPA's latest statements suggest a growing impatience with this explanation, demanding more tangible results and leadership presence on the ground.
