The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has renewed its call for the establishment of state police, saying decentralised policing is urgently needed to tackle insecurity and improve intelligence gathering at the grassroots.
The senators made the call on Friday, August 21, 2026, following recent terrorist attacks in Adamawa and Sokoto states that reportedly killed more than 36 people, including security personnel and worshippers.
In a statement signed by the forum’s chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, the lawmakers urged the Federal Government, state governors and state Houses of Assembly to expedite action on the State Police Bill, which is currently awaiting ratification.
The senators argued that allowing states to have their own police forces would improve security response by bringing policing closer to the communities where crimes and attacks occur.
They specifically cited the recent attack on Gaya community in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, where suspected Boko Haram insurgents reportedly killed eight people, including a police inspector and seven civilians. The attackers were also said to have set two houses ablaze.
The forum also condemned the attack on worshippers in Ungushi village, Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, where suspected Lakurawa members reportedly killed about 30 people during Friday prayers.
The senators said the continued loss of lives demonstrated the urgency of reforming Nigeria’s security architecture.
“Decentralised policing is critical to improving response time and intelligence gathering at the grassroots,” the forum said.
They also called on state and local governments to strengthen community vigilante groups, arguing that they could serve as important intelligence partners to the police and military.
The lawmakers warned that bureaucratic delays should not prevent the implementation of security reforms while communities continue to suffer terrorist attacks.
“We cannot continue to lose innocent lives to insurgents while bureaucracy delays critical security reforms. The time to act is now,” they said.
Post a Comment