Insecurity: South-West Senators, Others Renew Demand For State Police

Legislators and stakeholders from the South-West region of the country have intensified calls for the establishment of state police, deployment of advanced technology and stronger community-based security systems amid renewed concerns over rising insecurity across the country.

The demands were raised at the South-West zonal security summit held in Lagos convened as part of the 10th Senate’s interactive hearings on the National Security Summit.

This was disclosed in a statement issued to journalists yesterday in Abuja by Enitan Olukotun, media aide to Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, who represents Lagos East.

Abiru, who chairs the South-West hearings of the Senate ad-hoc committee, urged Nigerians to unite against emerging threats.

The senator, who is also chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking and Chairman of the Southern Senators’ Forum, warned that the region must act before insecurity escalates further.

He said, “While the South-West has not experienced the full brunt of terrorism as in some other regions, the rise in banditry, kidnapping, and violent crimes across our states is deeply troubling. Our villages and farmlands have come under increasing threat.

“Farmer-herder clashes have been on the increase, our highways have seen more daring incidents, and the disturbing spread of armed groups, such as the reported Lakurawa incursion into parts of Kwara and Kogi, underscores the urgent need for proactive measures.

“If decisive action is not taken, the danger could spill fully into the South-West. We must not allow the region to become a sanctuary for criminality or a battleground for those seeking to destabilise our nation. We must use every resource—human, material, and technological—to defend our communities.”

Abiru also appealed to the media to support national unity, saying, “We must promote narratives that strengthen unity, inspire confidence, and avoid framing our national challenges along ethnic or religious lines.”

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the CEO of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Dr Ayodele Ogunsan, backed plans to strengthen regional coordination and modernise Amotekun.

He said, “As governors of this region, we must reaffirm our commitment to a regional security framework, which includes transforming Amotekun into a more unified, well-equipped, technology-driven command capable of facilitating cross-state intelligence sharing and joint operations.

“Our traditional institutions—our Obas and community leaders—must remain central to this framework, as no one understands the heartbeat of local communities better than they do. Security is not just about keeping the peace; it is about ensuring our economic survival.

“When insecurity disrupts markets, farmlands, transportation, and investment, our GDP suffers, livelihoods crumble, and growth stalls. A region that cannot guarantee safety cannot guarantee prosperity. That is why our strategy must be proactive, intelligence-driven, and deeply rooted in community involvement.”