Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has warned that engaging in peace talks with armed groups without disarming them undermines state authority and stalls lasting stability.
He made the remarks on Wednesday while delivering a lecture at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) in Abuja. The address was part of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 18, themed “Non-state Actors in Security Management: Issues, Challenges, and Prospects for Peace and Development in Africa – A Zamfara State Perspective.”
Lawal stressed that informal peace arrangements in the North-West could be counterproductive if dialogue occurs without concurrent disarmament and reconciliation measures.
“Allowing armed groups to keep their weapons while setting peace terms simply delays violence and compromises state sovereignty,” the governor said.
He detailed his administration’s security strategy, highlighting efforts to improve coordination among security agencies via a unified State Security Council, establish Community Protection Guards (CPG), and enhance intelligence sharing between local institutions and law enforcement.
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Lawal also noted that peace committees have been set up in every local government area to mediate conflicts, restore community trust, and encourage active citizen involvement in security initiatives.
He identified the root causes of Zamfara’s security issues as economic deprivation, the spread of arms, weakened traditional structures, and high youth unemployment.
Lawal added that the state is working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser and international partners, including Colombia, on programs designed to prevent and counter violent extremism.