NEWS
‘Surrender or Face the Law’ – Gov Lawal Sends Strong Warning to Bandits
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has reaffirmed that his administration will not negotiate with bandits, declaring that security operations against criminal groups will continue until they surrender or face the full weight of the law.
The governor made the declaration through his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Mukhtar Musa, during the inauguration of the Secretariat of the Association of Zamfara State Indigenes Residing in Kaduna on Sunday.
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Speaking at the event, Musa said the Lawal administration remains committed to ending insecurity through sustained collaboration with security agencies across the state.
He disclosed that the state government would continue providing logistics, equipment, ammunition and other operational support to security forces battling banditry.
“The governor will never negotiate with bandits. Those willing to surrender should do so or face the law,” Musa said.
According to him, the government will sustain its offensive against bandits until lasting peace is restored across Zamfara State.
He also stressed the importance of community intelligence, urging residents to promptly report suspicious movements and activities to security agencies to strengthen the fight against insecurity.
Musa assured members of the association that Governor Lawal remains committed to restoring peace and delivering meaningful development across the state.
Describing the gathering as a reflection of unity among Zamfara indigenes living outside their home state, he commended the organisers for establishing the association’s secretariat in Kaduna and disclosed that the governor would visit the association in the future to strengthen ties.
As part of the government’s support, Musa announced a donation of ₦5 million to assist the association’s activities.
Earlier, the association’s Chairman, Alhaji Garba Balarabe, described the inauguration as a historic milestone, saying the secretariat would serve as a centre for unity, coordination and the welfare of members.
He revealed that the association distributed 280 bags of 10kg rice, vegetable oil and spaghetti to less privileged members and appealed to the Zamfara State Government to assist in acquiring a permanent office in Kaduna.
Also speaking, the Zamfara Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Dr. Abdulrahman Tumbido, commended the association’s humanitarian initiative, noting that many Zamfara indigenes had relocated to Kaduna due to insecurity.
Despite the security challenges, Tumbido expressed optimism that peace and stability would soon return to Zamfara.
The National President of the Zamfara State Indigenes Association, Alhaji Usman Balarabe, called for greater unity among members and pledged continued support for women, children and other vulnerable groups.
In her remarks, the association’s Ex-Officio, Hajiya Aishatu Maradun, urged the state government to sustain support for programmes aimed at strengthening the association.
Representing Engr. Abdullahi AbdulKarim Tsafe, Engr. Garba Abubakar formally inaugurated the secretariat.
He praised the association for supporting vulnerable members and recommended translating its constitution into Hausa to enhance understanding and ensure effective administration.
The event attracted government officials, traditional rulers, politicians, community leaders and members of the association from Kaduna, Abuja and other parts of the country.
In response to the recent security alerts, the Osun State Government has approved the establishment of a Joint Security Taskforce to strengthen security response and alert to threats to lives and properties in the state.
According to a government house statement on Thursday, to ensure smooth take off of the JTF, the state government declared its readiness to provide all necessary logistics that will strengthen the protection of lives and property of the people throughout Osun State .
The decision was adopted at the State Security Council (SSC) meeting convened yesterday by Governor Ademola Adeleke and presided over by the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi with the new Commissioner of Police personally in attendance alongside other security top brass.
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The Deputy Governor while opening the meeting conveyed the best wishes of the state Governor to the service commanders and lauded their steadfastness during recent security challenges and tasked them not to relent in the face of fresh security threats.
Accompanied by the Attorney General of the state, Hon Wole Jimi-Bada; the Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina; and the Governor’s Special Adviser on Security, Mr Samuel Ojo, the Deputy Governor told the commanders that the governor is committed to further empowering the security agencies to secure the state while calling on the traditional rulers to sustain their local security oversight.
The Council during its deliberations also used the opportunity of the meeting which lasted several hours to further allay the fears of the residents on their security and protection, noting that Osun state remains safe and secured.
The Council further tasks residents to be extra vigilant particularly in churches, mosques and schools, tasking stakeholders to put extra security measures around their premises.
While assuring the public of their safety, the Council further requested timely intelligence sharing to security agencies by members of the public to forestall attacks by suspected terrorists and bandits.
The Nigeria Police in conjunction with other security agencies were also directed to be on a 24 hour red alert to curtail the threats of the said bandits and terrorists.
At the meeting, an agreement was also reached between the Ministry of Justice, the Nigeria Police, and the DSS, to collaborate with a view to ensuring that all the suspects are properly investigated and prosecuted accordingly without delay.
The meeting ended with a commendation of the new Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Zungura for instituting policing reforms since his assumption of office and for attending the security meeting in person.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Yola, Adamawa State, to lead a Federal Government delegation on a condolence visit to the family of the late elder statesman, Alhaji Bamanga Muhammad Tukur.
Shettima’s visit is at the instance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following the death of the former Governor of the old Gongola State and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Vice President was received in Yola by Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, alongside members of the state executive council.
Tukur, who died on September 12, 2026, was a prominent businessman, politician and elder statesman whose career in public service and business spanned several decades.
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He served as Governor of the defunct Gongola State and later became National Chairman of the PDP. He was also recognised for his contributions to Nigeria’s political development and Africa’s business community.
The presidential delegation accompanying Shettima includes the APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori; former Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali; Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abdullahi Abubakar Gumel.
Others on the delegation are Hon. Abdulrazaq Sa’ad Namdas; Sarkin Gabas Adamawa, Dr Mahmood Halilu Ahmed (Modi); and APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, among others.
The condolence visit comes as political leaders, government officials and other Nigerians continue to mourn the death of the former governor and PDP national chairman.
Peter Obi has condemned the reported killing of some Nigerians abducted in Borgu, Niger State, saying the country must never normalise the killing of its citizens.
Obi made this known in a statement released via X on Wednesday, where he described the reports emerging from Borgu as increasingly difficult to comprehend and deeply painful.
He recalled that on August 27, he had expressed his anguish over the reported abduction of about 600 Nigerians, including women, children and elderly people, alongside the killing of others.
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According to him, his anguish has deepened following continuing reports of the gruesome killing of some of those abducted, while many others remain unaccounted for.
Obi also referred to another disturbing incident in which a bandit group reportedly beheaded a Nigerian and sent his severed head to a community leader over a ₦50 million levy.
“If the reported killing was intended to increase pressure on the community and extract more money for those still being held, then we must recognise the terrible reality before us: human life is being deliberately turned into a bargaining instrument,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor said one person being killed to terrorise an entire community while others are kept alive as hostages for more ransom amounts to the systematic devaluation of human life.
“These are not statistics. They are Nigerians. They are mothers, fathers, children, brothers, sisters and elderly people,” Obi said.
He questioned how long the country would continue to accept the kidnapping of hundreds of citizens, killings, criminal levies, displacement and ransom payments as unavoidable features of Nigerian life.
Obi said insecurity also affects families, farms, businesses, education and public confidence in government.
He called for intelligence-led operations, stronger community security, rapid response, better coordination and equipment for security forces, effective border protection and sustained action against criminal networks.
“The primary responsibility of government is the security and welfare of its citizens,” he said.
“While politicians prepare for elections, Nigerians are asking for something more fundamental: the right to live.”
Obi urged the government to match prayers with action, insisting that no criminal group should determine who lives or dies anywhere in Nigeria.
“Every Nigerian life matters. Every victim deserves justice. Every community deserves protection. Nigeria must restore security, justice, and the dignity of human life,” he added
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