Lawal’s Security Efforts In Zamfara Yielding Results Despite Criticism, GDL Media Force Insists

A pro-government group, GDL Media Force, has defended the security record of Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, describing recent criticisms of his administration as politically motivated and inconsistent with realities on the ground.

The group was reacting to a statement circulated on social media by an organisation known as the Zamfara Good Governance Forum, which reportedly described the governor’s anti-banditry efforts as a “total failure.” In a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, GDL Media Force said the claim was “divorced from reality” and an attempt to undermine what it called measurable progress in tackling insecurity across the state.

According to the group, Lawal has adopted a transparent and structured approach to addressing the decade-long security crisis in Zamfara, rejecting negotiations with bandits and instead investing heavily in security infrastructure and operational capacity. It noted that the governor had publicly declared his administration would not negotiate with criminal elements but would confront them decisively.

The statement highlighted the procurement of 25 Armoured Personnel Carriers and an 80-metre endurance surveillance drone capable of covering 50 kilometres and operating for up to eight hours continuously. It described the acquisition as the largest single state-level investment in security hardware in Zamfara’s history, adding that the initiative drew commendation from federal authorities, including the Minister of Defence.

Beyond hardware acquisition, the group said the administration operationalised Community Protection Guards in line with existing laws, providing them with 60 Hilux operational vehicles and specialised motorcycles to enhance rapid response in difficult terrains. It also cited the distribution of 150 Hilux vehicles to security agencies such as the Nigeria Police, DSS and NSCDC, as well as 20 Toyota Buffalo vehicles, both armoured and soft-body variants.

GDL Media Force further pointed to the establishment of the Zamfara State Security Trust Fund, which it described as a structured mechanism for providing sustained logistical support to security agencies, moving the state away from what it termed fragmented and reactive responses of the past.

The group also referenced a recent attack in Anka Local Government Area, stating that Governor Lawal immediately convened and presided over an emergency security meeting with heads of security agencies at the Government House in Gusau. It said the governor directed security chiefs to intensify vigilance, strengthen intelligence gathering and implement coordinated countermeasures to prevent further attacks.

In addition, the statement criticised the Zamfara Good Governance Forum, alleging that the group had consistently targeted the governor while remaining silent during previous administrations. It noted that the immediate past governor, Bello Matawalle, now serves as Minister of State for Defence, and claimed that recent criticisms align with familiar political patterns in the state.

The support group maintained that Lawal inherited severe fiscal and security challenges, including significant debt obligations, yet has continued to fund security operations without resorting to new borrowing. It added that the governor remains committed to restoring peace and normalcy across Zamfara State despite political and financial constraints.