The Coalition of Citizens Against Banditry and Insecurity in Nigeria (CABIN) has handed Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, a seven-day deadline to expose the hideouts of bandits and criminal groups across the state.
In a statement on Wednesday, September 10, signed by its president, Comrade Solomon Charles Abutu, the coalition warned that if the governor failed to act, it would mobilise nationwide demonstrations and demand that the Federal Government impose a state of emergency in Zamfara.
“Governor Dauda Lawal has confirmed in his own words that he knows where the killers, kidnappers and bloodthirsty bandits reside.
“By that singular admission, he owes Nigerians a moral and constitutional duty to immediately hand over these criminals to the relevant security agencies,” the group said.
“Anything short of this within seven days will amount to complicity, and will attract massive protests across Zamfara, Abuja and other parts of the country.
“In that event, we shall also demand that the Federal Government declare a state of emergency in Zamfara for the safety of its citizens.”
CABIN accused the governor of turning a blind eye to criminal networks despite consistently receiving what it described as “billions in monthly security votes.”
“Every month, Governor Dauda Lawal receives billions in security votes ostensibly to equip operations, motivate security agents and support civilian intelligence.
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“Yet what Zamfara has seen instead is worsening insecurity and a governor who has openly confessed he cannot do anything to end the crisis. That is not governance; that is abdication of responsibility,” the group said.
The coalition expressed anger that Zamfara has become the centre of Nigeria’s banditry crisis and condemned the governor for what it called “weaponising lamentation” instead of providing solutions.
“Governance is not lamentation. Leadership is not about saying ‘I cannot do it’. It is about deploying courage, political will, and resources to confront insecurity head-on.
“If Governor Lawal has run out of ideas, let him resign honourably instead of normalising excuses,” CABIN declared.
The group called on President Bola Tinubu to closely watch events in Zamfara and hold the governor accountable.
“Zamfara has for too long been Nigeria’s bleeding ground, the President must act decisively in the interest of national security,” CABIN said.
CABIN pledged to rally residents, students, and civil society organisations for coordinated protests in Gusau and Abuja if its ultimatum is ignored.
“We are prepared to raise the alarm at every level of society because the lives of Zamfara’s people matter. We will not watch idly while indifference and complicity reign.
“Governor Lawal has seven days to prove his loyalty to the Nigerian people, or face the full weight of civic resistance,” the coalition warned.