By Milcah Tanimu
President Bola Tinubu faces pressure to establish a judicial panel to investigate Zamfara State’s Governor Dauda Lawal. The Zamfara Youth Vanguard for Peace (ZYVP) claims the governor has connections to terrorism. In a recent letter to the President, they allege that Lawal paid ₦1.378 billion to bandits while suppressing whistleblowers who exposed these actions.
The ZYVP’s allegations highlight that this financial support contradicts Lawal’s stated commitment to peacebuilding in the region. Reports suggest that his actions have led to an increase in terrorist activities in Zamfara. The group also claims that whistleblowers have been detained and charged with forgery, attempting to distract from Lawal’s alleged misconduct.
Adding to the controversy, the ZYVP alleges that Lawal has ties to convicted terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, his brother-in-law. Concerns have arisen following Lawal’s recent visit to the US, where he met Abdulmutallab at the Administrative Maximum Facility in Colorado. The group suspects that Lawal intends to internationalize Nigeria’s insecurity issues.
Furthermore, the letter references the arrest of Bashir Hadejia, an associate of Lawal. Hadejia allegedly confessed to planning actions to destabilize Nigeria, including organizing protests. The ZYVP urges President Tinubu to thoroughly investigate Lawal’s potential support for terrorism and prioritize the safety of Nigerians.
