Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has called for stronger collaboration among security agencies and governments across the North-West to tackle banditry, kidnapping and other forms of organised crime threatening the region.
Lawal made the call on Wednesday in Gusau while speaking at a three-day North-West Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Police Force.
The summit brought together the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, representatives of North-West states, security and intelligence officials, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.
The governor said insecurity in the region had evolved beyond isolated criminal activities, with organised criminal networks operating across state boundaries.
According to him, banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling continue to undermine livelihoods, food security, education and investment across the region.
Lawal stressed that criminals did not recognise state boundaries, making closer cooperation among states and security agencies essential.
He called for real-time intelligence sharing, coordinated operations, inter-state surveillance and stronger community policing to improve the region’s security architecture.
“Our security must operate cohesively. Intelligence in Zamfara can prevent attacks elsewhere, and operations nearby can disrupt threats in Zamfara,” Lawal said.
The governor also urged authorities to target the financial and logistical structures sustaining organised crime by disrupting criminal routes, markets, intermediaries and financiers.
He challenged participants at the summit to move beyond identifying the region’s security challenges and develop practical solutions capable of producing measurable results.
“We must, therefore, challenge ourselves to leave Gusau not merely with another diagnosis of insecurity, but with actionable options,” he said.
Speaking at the summit, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, said restoring security in the North-West required collective efforts from state governments, security agencies and local communities.
“We have made up our minds to take the fight to these criminals,” Disu said, adding that the police would continue to deploy personnel and resources to strengthen security operations across the region.
He also emphasised the importance of community cooperation, noting that effective policing depends heavily on residents providing timely information to security agencies.
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