Northern Senators have demanded State Police after Adamawa and Sokoto attacks.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Northern Senators Forum has called for the immediate establishment of state police following terrorist attacks in Adamawa and Sokoto states that reportedly killed more than 36 people.
The victims of Friday’s attacks included security personnel and worshippers, according to the lawmakers.
In a statement signed by the Forum’s Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, the senators described the persistent killing of residents across northern Nigeria as unbearable and unacceptable.
Yar’Adua, who represents Katsina Central Senatorial District, urged the Federal Government, state governors and state Houses of Assembly to accelerate consideration of the State Police Bill.
The proposed legislation is currently before the Presidential Working Group led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
According to the lawmakers, decentralising Nigeria’s policing system would improve response times and strengthen intelligence gathering at the community level.
“Decentralised policing is critical to improving response time and intelligence gathering at the grassroots,” the senators stated.
“We cannot continue to lose innocent lives to insurgents while bureaucracy delays critical security reforms. The time to act is now.”
The Forum condemned the attacks on Gaya community in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State and Ungushi village in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
It commiserated with the victims’ families and prayed for the recovery of those injured during the assaults.
“The Forum prays for the repose of the souls of the departed and for the speedy recovery of those injured,” the statement added.
The senators also urged state and local governments to invest in and strengthen community vigilante organisations.
They said properly regulated vigilante groups could support the police and military by gathering and sharing intelligence on security threats within their communities.
The State Police Bill forms part of Nigeria’s ongoing constitutional amendment process. It requires the approval of at least 24 of the 36 state Houses of Assembly before it can become law.
Northern lawmakers have repeatedly argued that the centralised policing structure is overstretched and unable to respond effectively to security threats, particularly in remote communities.
The senators warned that further delays in reforming the country’s security architecture would amount to a disservice to Nigerians.
