Zamfara Boosts Firepower With New APCs and Drones as Lawal....

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has commissioned 25 Armoured Personnel Carriers and sets of aerial surveillance drones to strengthen ongoing security operations across the state.

The ceremony, held in Gusau, marks another phase in the state government’s structured logistics support to military and security agencies battling banditry and related crimes in Zamfara and the wider North West region.

Speaking during the handover, Governor Lawal said the newly deployed assets would enhance troop protection in high risk areas and significantly improve rapid response capabilities in remote communities.

He explained that the APCs would support convoy security along major routes, reduce vulnerability during patrols, and reinforce tactical ground operations, while the drones would provide real time aerial surveillance.

The governor noted that the latest deployment builds on earlier interventions, including the provision of more than 600 specialised motorcycles, 150 Hilux vehicles, and 20 Buffalo vehicles to security forces.

“These 25 sophisticated APCs form part of a broader reform to improve our response to security threats. By strengthening troop protection and mobility, we are reinforcing our capacity to respond swiftly to distress calls and safeguard our communities,” he said.

Governor Lawal stated that prolonged insecurity had disrupted farming activities, constrained trade, and weakened public confidence in parts of the state.

He said his administration’s Rescue Mission agenda is focused on structured reforms, including the establishment of the Zamfara State Security Trust Fund and the operationalisation of Community Protection Guards to boost grassroots intelligence gathering.

Highlighting the role of technology in modern security management, he said the surveillance drones would enhance situational awareness and coordination between command centres and operatives in the field.

“Access to real time intelligence improves decision making and reduces operational blind spots,” he added.

The governor acknowledged the support of the Federal Government under Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that recent federal defence allocations exceeding three trillion naira have strengthened stabilisation efforts at the subnational level.

He urged security personnel to ensure disciplined maintenance and intelligence driven deployment of the equipment, stressing that improved troop safety translates to safer communities.

Governor Lawal reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to restoring lasting peace across all local government areas through sustained preventive measures, strengthened rural patrol systems, deeper inter state intelligence collaboration within the North West, and prudent security spending.

The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, attended the event and formally commissioned the assets for operational service, as the state renewed its resolve to sustain security operations until durable peace is achieved.