Northern Group Slams Governor Lawal Over Zamfara Security Crisis

The Northern Front for Peace and Accountability (NFPA) has issued a blistering assessment of Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration, characterizing the current state of Zamfara as a region sliding into lawlessness. In a sharp critique released from Kaduna, the group expressed deep-seated frustration over what they termed a “dangerous collapse” of both governance and security coordination across the state’s embattled territories.

Alhaji Musa Abdullahi Kaura, the president of the NFPA, did not mince words when addressing the recent surge in violence that has gripped the state. He specifically pointed to the devastating suspected bomb explosion along the Yar’Tasha–Dansadau road in Maru Local Government Area as a tipping point. This incident, which reportedly claimed the lives of several travelers, was described by the group not as a random tragedy but as a symptom of a much larger, systemic failure.

According to Kaura, the frequency of these attacks has reached a level where armed groups now operate with a “disturbing confidence.” The group argues that the rural communities and major highways of Zamfara have become death traps for innocent citizens. They contend that the local population is being left to fend for itself while the state government struggles to find its footing or provide a coherent response to the encroaching chaos.

The rhetoric from the NFPA suggests that the people of Zamfara are living under a state of siege. The group highlighted the daily reality of killings, abductions, and the mass displacement of farmers who can no longer access their lands. In their view, the fundamental duty of leadership—protecting lives and property—is being neglected at a time when the state needs it most.

One of the most stinging accusations leveled against Governor Lawal is his alleged prolonged absence from the state. The NFPA described his current time away from the seat of power as “ill-timed and indefensible.” They argue that a governor’s physical presence is a psychological necessity during times of crisis, and his absence has created a perceived leadership vacuum that only serves to embolden criminal elements.

This perceived vacuum, the group claims, has deepened public anxiety and left the state’s security architecture without a clear, centralized direction. The NFPA insisted that leadership in a crisis requires visibility and decisive action. By being elsewhere while the state burns, they argue, the governor is sending a message of indifference to the victims of these terror attacks.

The group even went as far as to draw comparisons with past administrations, noting that despite the complexities of banditry, previous leaders like former Governor Yari maintained a more visible presence. Kaura suggested that while those years were controversial, there was at least a sense of active engagement, constant security meetings, and a visible political will to confront the threat head-on.

The NFPA is now calling for an immediate and radical shift in strategy. They are demanding a comprehensive security summit that brings together traditional rulers, community leaders, and federal security agencies. This, they believe, is the only way to rebuild the shattered trust between the government and the governed and to develop a localized, effective response to the insurgents.

Beyond the state level, the group is also appealing to the federal government to intervene more directly. They warned that if the situation in Zamfara is not addressed with the utmost urgency, the state risks becoming a permanent stronghold for terror groups. Such a scenario would not only destabilize Zamfara but would pose a significant threat to the security of the entire Northern region and the country at large.

The NFPA’s statement serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the conflict. As families bury their dead and the local economy grinds to a halt due to the abandonment of farms, the group’s central question remains: “When will the government rise to its responsibility?” This vocal criticism highlights the growing political pressure on Governor Lawal to return to the state and implement a more aggressive and visible security roadmap.

As the debate over the state’s future intensifies, the eyes of the nation are turning toward Zamfara. The NFPA has made it clear that they will no longer accept silence or absence as a response to the bloodshed. The challenge now lies with the administration to prove that it has a plan to restore peace and reclaim the territory from the hands of those who terrorize it.