Why we set up Zamfara community guards – Gov Lawal

The Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, has explained that the formation of the state’s Community Protection Guards aligns with the call for states to have better control over security structures.

This initiative, the governor said, aims to find community-driven ways to address security challenges that are specific to particular localities.

Governor Lawal made this clarification over the weekend when he received a delegation from the Media Trust Group, publishers of Daily Trust and owners of Trust TV and Trust Radio.

The delegation was led by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Malam Kabiru A. Yusuf, and the acting Group CEO/Editor-in-Chief (Print), Ahmed Shekarau.

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The meeting was held to discuss the company’s proposed regional summit on security.

The governor lamented that while the present set-up designates governors as the chief security officers of their states, the lack of control over the military and the police often frustrates their efforts to tackle criminality effectively.

“Banditry has been a challenge in Zamfara for over a decade. As a responsible government, we inherited this issue.

“However, despite being called the chief security officers of our states, we lack control over the military and the police. This often leads to frustration when we try to address these issues.

“When you want something to be done but because they are not under your control, you get frustrated along the line. Yes, they (military and police) are doing their best but the situation is not getting better.

“Therefore, we sat down and thought on the way forward to encourage the people to have synergy and to give the people comfort.

“This led to the formation of the Zamfara Community Protection Guards. These guards underwent training for over three months by both the military and police. The selection criteria were established in collaboration with all security operatives and traditional title holders.

“The guards were recruited from their respective local governments, so they are familiar with the terrain, which is an advantage over our security forces. They do not operate independently but collaborate with the military, police, and NSCDC. It’s a combined operation,” he said.

Despite facing criticism, including allegations of extrajudicial killings, the governor emphasised that the guards have been effective.

He acknowledged that there have been challenges in implementing the new idea but assured that they are being addressed regularly to improve effectiveness.

“Honestly, the guards have been very effective so far. However, as with anything new, there have been some teething problems, which we are continuously fine-tuning. Currently, we are comfortable with the progress and believe in what they are doing under the guidance of the police and the military,” he added.

When asked if this set-up aligned with the proponents of state police, Governor Lawal responded, “In a way, yes. My state is one of those that submitted a proposal supporting community policing or state police.

“We believe that having people under our control, who understand the terrain and know those involved in criminal activities, is crucial. Although there may be challenges, we need to start somewhere to understand the issues and find solutions.”