The GDL Media Force Support Group has dismissed recent criticisms of Governor Dauda Lawal’s handling of insecurity in Zamfara State, describing claims of failure as politically motivated and inconsistent with developments on the ground.
In a statement issued on March 4, 2026, in Abuja, the group faulted comments attributed to the Zamfara Good Governance Forum, which had labelled the governor’s security strategy a “total failure.” According to the media force, such claims ignore the administration’s investments and reforms aimed at restoring stability in the state.
The group stated that since assuming office in 2023, Lawal has prioritised security, pledging not to negotiate with bandits but to strengthen formal security institutions through transparency and capacity building. It noted that the state government procured 25 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and an endurance surveillance drone capable of operating for eight hours and covering up to 50 kilometres.
According to the statement, the acquisition represents one of the largest single security hardware investments by any state government in Zamfara’s history. The group added that Nigeria’s defence authorities commended the move during the inauguration of the equipment.
Beyond hardware procurement, the governor’s administration has operationalised the Community Protection Guards, providing them with 60 Hilux operational vehicles and motorcycles to enhance rapid response across difficult terrains. In addition, 150 Hilux vehicles were distributed to conventional security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, DSS and NSCDC, alongside 20 Toyota Buffalo vehicles, both armoured and soft-body variants.
The statement also highlighted the establishment of the Zamfara State Security Trust Fund as a structured framework to ensure sustainable logistical support for security agencies, moving away from what it described as reactive approaches of the past.
Reacting to the February 19 attack in Anka Local Government Area, the group said Governor Lawal convened an emergency security meeting with heads of security agencies at the Government House in Gusau, where he directed intensified intelligence gathering and coordinated countermeasures. The governor also expressed sympathy with affected communities and assured them of government support.
The media force further alleged that critics of the administration have a history of partisan opposition, claiming that some of the attacks coincide with political activities linked to former governor Bello Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence. It argued that the current administration inherited deep security and financial challenges, including heavy debt obligations.
According to the group, despite fiscal constraints and what it described as limited federal support, the Lawal administration has continued to fund security operations without new borrowing, while servicing inherited debts.
The GDL Media Force maintained that tackling banditry requires sustained effort and that measurable progress is being made. It urged residents to assess the administration’s performance based on ongoing reforms and security investments rather than what it termed politically driven narratives.
The statement concluded that the governor remains committed to restoring peace and normalcy across Zamfara State.
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