We won’t negotiate with bandits, says Zamfara Gov

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has firmly stated that his administration will not engage in negotiations with bandits responsible for the ongoing violence in the state.

The state government also refuted claims that it allocated substantial funds for dialogue and rehabilitation efforts aimed at the bandits.

In a statement delivered on Thursday by Abubakar Nakwada, Secretary to the State Government, on behalf of the governor, it was clarified that recent security memos allegedly issued by the state government were “not only false but also malicious, misleading, and crafted with ill intent.”

“It is crucial that we address this issue with complete transparency and a sense of urgency,” Nakwada emphasized.

“While we would typically dismiss such fabrications, as we have with other baseless lies intended to distract Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration from its mission to rescue and rebuild the state, the sensitivity of security matters, which remain a top priority for this administration, compels us to provide these clarifications.

“Our stance remains firm: we will not negotiate with terrorists. This administration has been clear and consistent in its approach to addressing the security challenges facing our state.”

Nakwada highlighted that the state government has implemented comprehensive measures to combat banditry, with a strong emphasis on integrity and accountability.

He further noted that the state will not repeat strategies that have failed in the past.

“Unfortunately, previous attempts at dialogue not only failed but exacerbated the problem by emboldening these terrorists, making them even more audacious—a situation that is now backfiring,” he explained.

“Why would we continue to repeat the same actions and expect different outcomes?

“We believe that this fake memo is part of a broader, sinister attempt to undermine our efforts to establish lasting peace and security across the state.

“On behalf of the Zamfara government, I urge the general public to stay vigilant and not fall victim to the deceptive tactics of those seeking to derail our mission.”

Nakwada also mentioned that the state government has introduced Community Protection Guards, who are working in collaboration with security agencies and law enforcement to combat banditry.

“In addition, we have strengthened our technical capabilities by deploying advanced surveillance and communication systems, which have greatly improved our ability to detect and respond to threats in real time,” he concluded.