Act On State Police Now, Northern Senators Tell Federal Govt, Govs

The Northern Senators Forum has renewed calls for the establishment and full implementation of state police in the country, declaring that the time for action is now, following the latest terrorist attacks in Adamawa and Sokoto states.

The senators made the call in a statement yesterday signed by their chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, representing Katsina Central Senatorial District.

The lawmakers urged the federal government, through the Presidential Working Group chaired by the chief of staff to the president as well as state governors and Houses of Assembly, to give prompt attention to and concur with the state police bill currently awaiting ratification.

The senators said decentralised policing would strengthen security operations by improving response times and intelligence gathering at the grassroots.

“Decentralized policing is critical to improving response time and intelligence gathering at the grassroots,” the forum said.

They  warned against further delays in implementing security reforms, stressing that the continued loss of innocent lives to terrorists required urgent action.

“We cannot continue to lose innocent lives to insurgents while bureaucracy delays critical security reforms.  The time to act is now,” they said.

The renewed demand followed terrorist attacks in communities in Adamawa and Sokoto States that reportedly claimed the lives of more than 36 people, including security personnel and innocent civilians.

The forum specifically condemned the attacks in Gaya community, Hong local government area of Adamawa State and Ungushi village, Kebbe local government area of Sokoto State.

“The Northern Senators Forum strongly condemns the recent wave of terrorist attacks in Gaya community, Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State and in Ungushi village, Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, which have claimed the lives of over 36 Nigerians, including security personnel and innocent worshippers,” the statement said.

The senators commiserated with the families of the victims and expressed solidarity with the governments and people of Adamawa and Sokoto States.

They also called on state and local governments to invest in and strengthen community vigilante groups, describing them as potential intelligence partners to the police and military in combating insecurity at the grassroots.

According to the lawmakers, stronger collaboration between local communities and security agencies would improve intelligence gathering and help security personnel respond more effectively to emerging threats.

The Forum prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed in the attacks and the speedy recovery of those injured.