Northern leaders, comprising governors and traditional rulers, have reaffirmed their support for the immediate creation of state police, describing it as an indispensable reform to confront Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
The position was made clear at a high‑level meeting held in Kaduna State on Monday, hosted by Governor Uba Sani and chaired by Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, who leads the Northern Governors’ Forum.
The gathering brought together all 19 northern governors, deputy governors representing their principals, and chairmen of the region’s traditional councils, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar.
Governor Sani, in his welcome address, stressed that Nigeria’s centralized policing system is overstretched.
“With fewer than four hundred thousand police officers nationwide, many rural communities are left without meaningful protection. Nigeria’s centralized policing model can no longer meet the demands of a nation with over two hundred million people with vast ungoverned spaces,” he said.
He dismissed claims of complacency among northern governors, insisting they coordinate strategies, share intelligence, and hold one another accountable.
He reiterated that decentralized policing is now imperative to secure communities across the region.
Yahaya: Security Challenges Are Multifaceted
Governor Yahaya emphasised that insecurity affects both Muslims and Christians, warning against divisive narratives that undermine national cohesion.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for his “decisive efforts” to secure the nation, while stressing that international cooperation must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.
He linked the roots of insecurity to underdevelopment, illiteracy, climate change, and poor resource management, urging massive investment in education and infrastructure.
Yahaya placed the plight of millions of out‑of‑school children at the forefront of the agenda, calling it “a stain on our collective conscience.”
Sultan of Sokoto Urges Constructive Engagement
Traditional rulers, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, warned that insecurity and poverty are eroding social stability.
The Sultan urged governors to listen more attentively to critics and use constructive feedback to strengthen governance. He also proposed structured engagements between governors and traditional leaders across the region to harmonize decisions.
The meeting issued a communiqué reaffirming support for state police and urging federal and state lawmakers to expedite constitutional reforms for its actualization.
Leaders also proposed a six‑month suspension of mining activities across the North to curb insecurity, citing links between illegal mining and violence.
The forum extended condolences to states affected by recent attacks in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano, Borno, and Yobe, describing the killings and abductions of schoolchildren and worshippers as “unacceptable tragedies.”
They commended Tinubu’s firm response to recent abductions, praised security agencies for sacrifices on the frontlines, and pledged renewed support for military operations against insurgents.
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