The Arewa Coalition for Peace, Reform and Good Governance (ACPRGG) has publicly backed Governor Dauda Lawal’s efforts to tackle longstanding insecurity in Zamfara State, arguing that the current administration inherited a degraded security architecture created by years of failed policy.
Zamfara security reform
In a statement issued in Kaduna, ACPRGG president Alhaji Sadiq Mahmoud described Lawal’s measures as “deliberate, courageous and reform-driven”, and urged citizens and critics to support the governor rather than call for a return to the strategies of previous administrations. The group said recent incidents, including the suspected bomb explosion on the Yar’Tasha–Dansadau road in Maru Local Government Area, should be viewed as symptoms of deep-rooted governance failures predating the Lawal administration.
Mahmoud told reporters that the insecurity currently affecting Zamfara was not the product of the present government’s actions. “What we are witnessing today is the consequence of years of negligence, poor policy choices and short-sighted strategies that empowered armed groups, weakened state institutions and normalised violence,” he said. The statement singled out the tenure of former governor Abdul’aziz Yari, arguing that policies from that era failed to stem the growth of armed groups and, in some cases, exacerbated the problem.
Rejecting calls for a revival of Yari-era tactics, ACPRGG said those approaches did not defeat banditry. Instead, the group argued, they led to the proliferation of weapons, the entrenchment of armed networks in rural communities and a loss of confidence among residents. “Those asking for a return to old methods are ignoring history,” Mahmoud said.
ACPRGG praised Governor Lawal’s emphasis on intelligence-led operations and closer coordination with federal security agencies. According to the group, the administration has prioritised rebuilding trust between local communities and the state, engaging security chiefs and traditional rulers, and initiating reforms to tackle the economic and social drivers of violence.
Defending Lawal against criticism about his movements outside the state, the group argued that modern security leadership requires high-level coordination and strategic planning rather than constant public displays of presence. “Security governance is not about theatrics or shouting orders in public; it is about strategy, coordination, and long-term planning,” the statement added, stressing that meaningful security gains will take time.
Local and federal security agencies continue to investigate the Maru road explosion. ACPRGG called for unity and cooperation with authorities, urging residents to remain vigilant while offering sustained support for the governor’s reform programme. The group warned against politicising insecurity and absolving past leaders of responsibility for chronic failures.
Observers say the coming months will be critical in testing the effectiveness of Lawal’s approach. Analysts note that intelligence-led operations and community engagement can yield durable gains, but sustained progress will depend on consistent funding, transparent oversight and practical measures to address unemployment and poverty in affected areas.
For now, ACPRGG’s endorsement strengthens the public conversation around a shift in security strategy in Zamfara, framing the crisis as a long-term challenge that requires coordinated governance rather than a quick return to discredited tactics.
Key Takeaways:
- ACPRGG praises Governor Dauda Lawal’s intelligence-led Zamfara security reform and urges public support.
- The group rejects a return to Abdul’aziz Yari’s policies, blaming past leadership for entrenched insecurity.
- Lawal’s approach emphasises federal collaboration, community trust-building and addressing socio-economic drivers of violence.
- Residents are urged to remain patient and cooperate with security agencies as investigations continue into the Maru road explosion.
