…says genuine peace dialogue must be accompanied by disarmament.
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has warned that negotiating peace with armed groups while allowing them to retain their weapons undermines state authority and postpones lasting peace in the North-West region.
Speaking on Wednesday during a lecture at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) in Abuja, Governor Lawal addressed participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC 18) on the theme: “Non-state Actors in Security Management: Issues, Challenges, and Prospects for Peace and Development in Africa – A Zamfara State Perspective.”
The governor cautioned against what he described as unregulated harmony deals being promoted in parts of the region, stressing that genuine dialogue must be accompanied by disarmament, reconciliation, and community rebuilding.
“Allowing armed groups to keep their weapons while setting peace terms simply delays violence and compromises state sovereignty,” Lawal said.
Outlining his administration’s security strategy, the governor explained that Zamfara has strengthened coordination among security agencies through a Unified State Security Council, established Community Protection Guards (CPG), and improved intelligence-sharing between local institutions and law enforcement.
He further disclosed that peace committees have been formed in all local government areas to mediate conflicts, rebuild trust, and encourage grassroots participation in community security.
According to Lawal, the roots of Zamfara’s insecurity lie in economic deprivation, arms proliferation, weak traditional institutions, and youth unemployment–factors that must be addressed for calm to take firm hold.
“We cannot talk about lasting peace without tackling poverty, restoring community leadership structures, and providing opportunities for our young people,” he noted.
Governor Lawal also revealed ongoing collaborations with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and international partners, including Colombia, to develop programmes aimed at preventing and countering violent extremism in the state.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to implementing long-term security reforms that combine military efficiency with human development, insisting that peace built on compromise with armed non-state actors is both dangerous and unsustainable.
