A warning from the northwest
When the Zamfara governor says security agencies ignored intelligence on bandit movements, he points to what he describes as a breakdown not in surveillance, but in response.
Governor Dauda Lawal alleged that despite deploying technology capable of tracking criminal activity in real time, security operatives failed to act decisively on shared intelligence.
The remarks come amid renewed attacks in parts of Zamfara and neighbouring states.
“It is not their priority”
In an interview, Lawal said movements of armed groups are tracked through satellite systems and drones, with updates transmitted to military, police, DSS and civil defence operators.
“Every movement is communicated to all relevant security operators in real time,” he said, arguing that available tools make it possible to neutralise bandits swiftly.
“But it is not their priority, and it’s frustrating,” the governor added.
His comments suggest tension between state-level intelligence capabilities and federal security command structures.
Fresh attacks intensify scrutiny
Zamfara remains one of Nigeria’s epicentres of banditry, mass abductions and rural assaults.
Recently, gunmen reportedly attacked Moriki town in Zurmi Local Government Area, killing a senior local government health official and abducting residents.
Residents have repeatedly accused security forces of delayed response during distress calls — a claim security authorities typically attribute to terrain challenges and manpower constraints.
The coordination question
Security operations in Nigeria operate within a federal command structure, where operational authority rests with central military and security leadership.
Governors, while designated as chief security officers of their states, lack direct control over deployed armed forces.
This structural arrangement has long generated friction during high-casualty incidents, particularly in bandit-affected northwest states.
Lawal said he had briefed President Bola Tinubu on the situation, insisting that realities on the ground were not being accurately conveyed at federal level.
Technology versus operational urgency
The governor argued that technological tools — including satellite tracking and drone surveillance — have reduced the intelligence gap.
The challenge, he implied, lies in operational prioritisation rather than data availability.
Security analysts caution that while intelligence systems may enhance situational awareness, successful interdiction depends on logistics readiness, rapid deployment capacity, inter-agency coordination and terrain familiarity.
A system under strain
Nigeria’s northwest security crisis has persisted for years, fuelled by illicit arms flows, economic deprivation, porous borders and criminal economies linked to illegal mining and ransom networks.
Multiple states have experimented with community intelligence frameworks and negotiated ceasefires, with mixed outcomes.
The debate now shifts from whether bandits can be tracked — to whether the state can consistently act fast enough.
If intelligence outruns response
If intelligence continues to outpace operational response, public confidence in security architecture may erode further. Conversely, improved coordination between state surveillance systems and federal command structures could alter the trajectory of violence.
For Zamfara, the governor’s allegation places urgency not on new tools — but on what happens after alerts are sent.
The test now lies in whether coordination improves before the next attack.
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