CSO Urges Tinubu to Suspend Federal Allocations to Zamfara Over Gov Lawal Alleged Links to Banditry

A civil society organization, Situation Room on Monitoring the War Against Banditry, has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend federal allocations to Zamfara State and consider declaring a state of emergency, citing alleged ties between Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration and ongoing insecurity in the region.

The group claims the governor’s management of security funds has inadvertently empowered criminal groups, accusing the state government of indirectly supporting bandit activities through misappropriated public resources.

“This amounts to feeding bandits straight from Government House,” the group alleged, referencing a recent video in which Governor Dauda Lawal reportedly acknowledged knowledge of key bandit hideouts but failed to act.

Addressing reporters on Sunday, Patriot Henry Abba, convener of the Situation Room, described the governor’s remarks as a “damning admission of guilt” that reflects a troubling failure of leadership and has deepened the security crisis in Zamfara. “It’s a heartbreaking betrayal of public trust and a monumental leadership collapse,” Abba stated.

He criticized Governor Lawal for allegedly withholding critical intelligence from federal security agencies, arguing that such inaction has turned Zamfara into a “notorious graveyard”, where mass abductions, killings, and widespread displacement have become daily realities.

Abba painted a bleak picture of life in the state: destroyed villages, traumatized families, and farmlands abandoned under the constant threat of violence.

He questioned the justification for the governor’s apparent inaction, especially given the state’s monthly security allocation of approximately N600 million. Abba called Lawal’s stance “irresponsible” and an insult to security forces risking their lives in the fight against insurgency.

While some of the governor’s supporters claimed the viral video was merely a plea for federal assistance, Abba dismissed that defense. “This isn’t a call for help—it’s a confession. The governor knows where these criminals operate but chooses silence while innocent citizens suffer,” he argued.

The group also challenged Lawal to present evidence that such intelligence had been shared with relevant federal agencies, expressing skepticism about the governor’s claims and raising concerns over bureaucratic inefficiencies.

Further allegations from the CSO include claims that local government funds meant for rural development are being misappropriated, with local chairpersons allegedly residing in the state capital, Gusau, rather than serving their communities.

“They’re turning grassroots funds into personal windfalls,” Abba alleged, adding that the lack of local governance has only worsened insecurity.

Abba also accused the governor of using his public statements as a political strategy to shift blame onto the Tinubu administration and distract from his own leadership failures. “It’s politics at its most dangerous—a smokescreen to hide the reality of Zamfara’s descent into lawlessness,” he said.

The Situation Room made several demands, including:

• Immediate suspension of federal allocations to Zamfara pending a full audit of the state’s security spending.

• A joint investigation by the EFCC, DSS, and Office of the National Security Adviser to probe any misuse of funds linked to banditry.

• A National Assembly inquiry into the governor’s management of security intelligence and public resources.

The group also called for stronger protections for whistleblowers and victims, many of whom face intimidation or threats when speaking out.

If investigations confirm any wrongdoing, the CSO urged the federal government to consider imposing emergency rule in Zamfara to stabilize the region and restore public trust.