The Northern Senators Forum has called for the immediate establishment of state police, saying decentralised policing is now critical to curbing rising terrorist attacks across the region.
In a statement issued Friday and signed by the Forum’s Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, APC, Katsina Central, the lawmakers urged the Federal Government, state governors and state Houses of Assembly to fast-track ratification of the State Police Bill currently before them.
“Decentralised policing is critical to improving response time and intelligence gathering at the grassroots.
“We cannot continue to lose innocent lives to insurgents while bureaucracy delays critical security reforms. The time to act is now.”
The Senators were reacting to coordinated attacks in Gaya community, Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State and Ungushi village, Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, which they said claimed over 36 lives including security personnel and worshippers.
They condemned the killings and commiserated with families of the victims.
“The Northern Senators Forum strongly condemns the recent wave of terrorist attacks in Gaya community, Hong LGA of Adamawa State and in Ungushi village, Kebbe LGA of Sokoto State, which have claimed the lives of over 36 Nigerians,” the Forum stated.
To address the security gap, the Senators urged state and local governments to invest in and strengthen community vigilante groups to serve as intelligence partners to the Police and Military.
They also called on the Presidential Working Group on Police Reforms, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, to give the State Police Bill prompt attention.
The Forum prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed and for speedy recovery of those injured.
