Government
Gov. Lawal Convenes Emergency Security Meeting Over Rising Bandit Attacks in Zamfara
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has convened an emergency security meeting following renewed bandit attacks and credible reports of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted along major highways in the state.
The high-level meeting, held on Friday at the Government House in Gusau, brought together heads of security agencies and key stakeholders to assess the deteriorating security situation and chart a coordinated response.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the emergency session was prompted by alarming security developments, particularly intelligence indicating the placement of IEDs on certain routes.
Governor Lawal directed security chiefs to urgently review the state’s security architecture and develop a clear, strategic operational framework aimed at curbing the growing threats. He emphasized the need for heightened vigilance, stronger intelligence gathering, and immediate coordinated countermeasures.
According to the statement, the meeting underscored the shared responsibility between the state government and security agencies in safeguarding lives and property across Zamfara.
The governor also urged security operatives to stay ahead of criminal elements, deny them operational freedom, and decisively neutralise emerging threats before they escalate further.
Governor Lawal extended his condolences to security personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty and commended their sacrifices. He equally sympathised with families and communities affected by the attacks, assuring them of continued government support.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing logistical, operational, and institutional backing to security agencies to strengthen their effectiveness in combating insecurity in the state.
The Federal Government has called for calm and restraint amid escalating tensions in the Gulf region, warning that further hostilities could have grave consequences for regional and global stability.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, expressed Nigeria’s deep concern over the deteriorating situation and urged all parties involved to avoid actions capable of worsening the crisis.
Nigeria appealed for maximum restraint, stressing the need to prioritise dialogue over confrontation and to adhere strictly to international law.
“We urge strict adherence to the provisions of the United Nations Charter and the Geneva Conventions, particularly with regard to respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the peaceful settlement of disputes,” the statement read.
The government emphasised the importance of exercising caution in the use of force to prevent further civilian casualties and avoid undermining established norms of international law. It noted that preserving the global legal framework that regulates the use of force remains essential for protecting civilian populations and maintaining international order.
Reaffirming its longstanding foreign policy principles of non-alignment, multilateralism, and constructive engagement, Nigeria expressed support for renewed diplomatic initiatives within established international and regional mechanisms to resolve the crisis.
The government also welcomed efforts aimed at mediation, confidence-building, and dialogue, urging all stakeholders to pursue peaceful solutions in the interest of collective security and shared prosperity.
Nigeria, the statement added, stands in solidarity with the international community in calling for calm and remains convinced that sustainable peace can only be achieved through diplomacy, mutual respect, and faithful adherence to international law.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reappointed Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi as the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for a fresh five-year term.
The reappointment took effect from Friday, February 27, 2026.
Dr Audi was first appointed to the position in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari. His initial five-year tenure ended last Friday as he participated in activities marking the 2026 World Civil Defence Day at the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja.
He is expected to resume duties on Monday with a renewed mandate.
President Tinubu charged the NSCDC boss to reposition the Corps to play a more significant role in the nation’s security architecture, particularly as the police refocus on their primary responsibility of protecting citizens from banditry, kidnapping and terrorism.
Born on September 30, 1967, in Laminga Town, Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Dr Audi had his early education in the state before proceeding to Teachers’ College, Jengre, Plateau State, where he obtained a Teachers’ Grade II Certificate in 1987.
He later attended the College of Education, Akwanga, earning a Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in 1992. He proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical and Health Education in 1995.
In 2001, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Calabar. He subsequently earned a PhD in Public Administration from Nasarawa State University in 2014, and a Master’s in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (MLCJ) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 2019.
Dr Audi joined the NSCDC in November 1996 as a volunteer and, after completing his basic officer training in 1997, was deployed as a Divisional Officer in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
He served in various state commands and, in 2007, was promoted to the rank of Commandant of the Corps and deployed to the Office of the Commandant-General at the National Headquarters in Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu has pledged to work closely with the House of Representatives to advance the proposed creation of state police, stressing that any enabling law must include strong safeguards to prevent a repeat of past abuses.
The President made the commitment on Friday night in Abuja during a Ramadan fast-breaking (Iftar) with members of the House. He said security challenges across the country have underscored the need for a more localized policing structure, backed by constitutional provisions.
According to him, policing is fundamentally local and requires reforms that reflect the realities in communities across the federation. He urged lawmakers to carefully consider the constitutional amendments required to establish state police while ensuring accountability and respect for human rights.
The appeal to the Green Chamber follows a similar engagement with the Senate earlier in the week, as the administration intensifies efforts to build consensus in the National Assembly on the proposed reform.
Tinubu also commended the lawmakers for their continued collaboration with the executive arm and for supporting his administration’s economic reform agenda, describing their partnership as critical to national stability and growth.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, assured the President of the House’s readiness to consider proposals aimed at strengthening national security, noting that legislative backing would be guided by the interest of Nigerians.
The push for state police has remained a key issue in ongoing constitutional reform debates, amid calls for improved security architecture nationwide.