Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has declared that armed bandits who reject peace and continue to terrorise communities must be made to face the full weight of the law, warning that the Northwest can no longer afford fragmented responses to its worsening security crisis.

The governor made the statement on Wednesday while opening a three-day Northwest Security Summit hosted by the Zamfara State Government in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force at the Government House in Gusau.

The summit, themed “Appraising the Security Challenges in the Northwest Region,” drew top security officials, intelligence chiefs, traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society groups and representatives from states across the region.

Among the dignitaries in attendance was the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, who described security in the Northwest as a shared responsibility requiring collective action.

Addressing participants, Governor Lawal said the choice of Zamfara as the venue for the summit was symbolic, given the state’s long-standing battle against banditry, kidnappings and other violent crimes.

He noted that insecurity in the Northwest has evolved beyond isolated criminal acts into a complex network of organised operations stretching across state boundaries.

According to him, criminal groups involved in banditry, cattle rustling and kidnapping have continued to threaten livelihoods, disrupt education, weaken food production and discourage investment across the region.

Lawal also raised concerns about emerging urban security threats, including thuggery, drug abuse and attempts by extremist elements to infiltrate communities.

The governor stressed that the scale of the crisis demands stronger collaboration among states and security agencies, arguing that criminals operate without regard for geographical boundaries.

He called for enhanced intelligence sharing, coordinated security operations, improved inter-state surveillance and stronger community policing structures to tackle the growing menace.

Lawal further urged security stakeholders to focus on dismantling the financial and logistical networks that sustain criminal activities.

According to him, defeating banditry requires more than military operations; it also involves cutting off supply routes, disrupting sources of funding and exposing networks of informants and collaborators who aid criminal groups.

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He challenged participants at the summit to move beyond discussions and produce practical strategies capable of delivering measurable results.

“We must leave this summit with actionable solutions, not just another assessment of the problem,” the governor said.

He called for concrete measures to restrict the movement of criminals across forests and border communities while strengthening security around vulnerable corridors without affecting legitimate economic activities.

In his remarks, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu said the Northwest remains strategically important to Nigeria and that securing the region requires a united approach.

The police chief said security agencies are increasingly working together across state lines, sharing intelligence and coordinating operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks.

According to him, law enforcement agencies have resolved to intensify efforts against armed groups and other security threats across the region.

“We police together, we share intelligence together and we are determined to take the fight directly to these criminals,” the IGP said.

Disu assured residents that the Nigeria Police Force would continue deploying personnel, resources and partnerships to strengthen security in the Northwest.

However, he emphasised that lasting success can only be achieved with the support and cooperation of local communities, noting that effective policing depends heavily on public participation and timely information.

The summit comes amid renewed efforts by federal and state authorities to curb banditry and restore stability across the Northwest, a region that has witnessed years of deadly attacks, kidnappings and widespread displacement.

For stakeholders gathered in Gusau, the message was clear: the battle against insecurity can no longer be fought in isolation, and those who continue to threaten innocent lives must be prepared to face the consequences.