Zamfara Security Stakeholders Demand Tighter Border Surveillance to Stop Arms, Drugs Infiltration

Zamfara Security Stakeholders Demand Tighter Border Surveillance to Stop Arms, Drugs Infiltration

Security stakeholders in Zamfara State have called for stronger surveillance of the state’s porous borders to prevent the movement of arms and drugs believed to be fuelling banditry and kidnapping across the North-West.

The call was made on Wednesday during a meeting between Governor Dauda Lawal and a delegation led by former Colombian National Security Adviser, Sergio Jaramillo, in Gusau, the state capital.

The meeting brought together representatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser, state government officials, security agencies, traditional rulers, civil society organisations and academics to discuss ways of tackling insecurity in Zamfara.

Participants stressed the need for the state government and security agencies to intensify monitoring around vulnerable border routes. They said stopping the flow of weapons and other substances used by criminal groups was critical to weakening bandit networks operating in the region.

The stakeholders also advocated stronger involvement of traditional institutions in peace and security efforts. They said any negotiations with bandits should be conducted from a position of strength and must not undermine the authority of the state or the rights of victims.

Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Bello, identified operational shortcomings as a major obstacle in the fight against banditry. According to him, the challenge is not primarily a lack of intelligence, but the ability to translate available intelligence into effective operations.

Bello therefore called for improved operational capacity for security agencies to enable them to respond more effectively to bandit attacks and other criminal activities in Zamfara and the wider North-West.

The state government has also proposed the creation of a victims’ support fund as part of its broader peacebuilding and security strategy. Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Nakwada, said reconciliation must remain within the bounds of the law and should not come at the expense of justice, accountability or community safety.

Nakwada added that the proposed fund would complement other measures being developed by the government to support victims and strengthen the state’s overall peace and security framework.Security stakeholders in Zamfara State have called for stronger surveillance of the state’s porous borders to prevent the movement of arms and drugs believed to be fuelling banditry and kidnapping across the North-West.

The call was made on Wednesday during a meeting between Governor Dauda Lawal and a delegation led by former Colombian National Security Adviser, Sergio Jaramillo, in Gusau, the state capital.

The meeting brought together representatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser, state government officials, security agencies, traditional rulers, civil society organisations and academics to discuss ways of tackling insecurity in Zamfara.

Participants stressed the need for the state government and security agencies to intensify monitoring around vulnerable border routes. They said stopping the flow of weapons and other substances used by criminal groups was critical to weakening bandit networks operating in the region.

The stakeholders also advocated stronger involvement of traditional institutions in peace and security efforts. They said any negotiations with bandits should be conducted from a position of strength and must not undermine the authority of the state or the rights of victims.

Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Bello, identified operational shortcomings as a major obstacle in the fight against banditry. According to him, the challenge is not primarily a lack of intelligence, but the ability to translate available intelligence into effective operations.

Bello therefore called for improved operational capacity for security agencies to enable them to respond more effectively to bandit attacks and other criminal activities in Zamfara and the wider North-West.

The state government has also proposed the creation of a victims’ support fund as part of its broader peacebuilding and security strategy. Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Nakwada, said reconciliation must remain within the bounds of the law and should not come at the expense of justice, accountability or community safety.

Nakwada added that the proposed fund would complement other measures being developed by the government to support victims and strengthen the state’s overall peace and security framework.