Time for State Police is now, Northern Senators tell FG, govs

The Northern Senators Forum has renewed calls for the establishment and implementation of State Police, saying the time has come for Nigeria to accelerate efforts to decentralise its policing system amid continuing security challenges.

The lawmakers made the demand following recent terrorist attacks in Adamawa and Sokoto states which, according to the forum, claimed the lives of more than 36 Nigerians, including security personnel and worshippers.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, representing Katsina Central, the senators urged the Federal Government, state governors and State Houses of Assembly to give urgent attention to the proposed State Police Bill currently awaiting ratification.

Senators Demand Urgent Action

The senators specifically called on the Presidential Working Group on police reforms, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, as well as governors and lawmakers at the state level, to expedite the process.

They argued that decentralised policing could improve security responses by bringing law enforcement closer to communities and strengthening intelligence gathering at the grassroots.

The forum said delays in implementing security reforms could have serious consequences at a time when several communities are dealing with attacks by armed groups and other security threats.

The senators therefore urged authorities to treat the State Police Bill as a matter requiring urgent attention rather than allowing the process to remain delayed.

Adamawa and Sokoto Attacks Trigger Fresh Concern

The renewed demand followed attacks in communities in Adamawa and Sokoto states.

In Adamawa, the senators condemned an attack on Gaya community in Hong Local Government Area. Reports cited by the forum said eight people, including a police inspector and seven civilians, were killed during the incident.

In Sokoto, another attack occurred in Ungushi village in Kebbe Local Government Area. The forum said about 30 people were killed in the incident, while reports indicated that worshippers were among the victims.

The two incidents have intensified concerns about the ability of existing security structures to respond quickly to attacks in remote communities.

The Northern Senators Forum described the incidents as a serious security concern and expressed sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives.

Why Senators Want Decentralised Policing

The senators believe State Police could complement the existing federal security architecture by improving local intelligence and response times.

Under the current structure, the Nigeria Police Force operates as a federal institution, while state governments have limited direct control over policing operations.

Supporters of State Police have long argued that communities often require security personnel who understand their local environment, languages and security challenges.

The Northern Senators Forum said decentralised policing could help bridge some of these gaps by allowing security responses to be more closely connected to local conditions.

However, the proposal has also generated debates about safeguards, funding, accountability and the possibility of political interference.

Community Vigilance Also Needed

Beyond the establishment of State Police, the senators called on state and local governments to strengthen community vigilance groups.

The forum said properly organised community-based security groups could serve as intelligence partners to the police and military by providing information about suspicious activities within local communities.

The senators’ position is that improved intelligence sharing can help security agencies identify potential threats earlier and respond before attacks escalate.

Such groups, however, would need to operate within the law and in coordination with recognised security agencies.

State Police Debate Continues

The call by the Northern Senators Forum adds to Nigeria’s long-running debate over whether policing should remain largely centralised or become more decentralised.

Proponents say State Police could improve responsiveness and address the limitations of a single national policing structure serving a large and diverse country.

Critics, however, have raised concerns about how state-level policing could be protected from political influence and how funding, recruitment, training and oversight would be handled.

These issues make the proposed legislation particularly important, as any new policing structure would require clear rules governing its powers, financing, recruitment, discipline and accountability.

A Call for Faster Reform

For the Northern Senators Forum, the recent attacks demonstrate the urgency of the debate.

The lawmakers have called on the Federal Government, governors and State Houses of Assembly to move the State Police Bill forward while also strengthening existing security institutions and community intelligence systems.

The proposal, if implemented, would represent a significant change in Nigeria’s security architecture and could affect how policing is organised across the federation.

For now, the senators want government authorities to accelerate the legislative and administrative processes required to establish a workable State Police system.

The renewed push also places responsibility on policymakers to ensure that any decentralised policing model is adequately funded, professionally trained, independently accountable and operated within the framework of Nigerian law.

This report is based on publicly reported statements by the Northern Senators Forum and other news sources. Details surrounding the attacks and the proposed State Police framework remain subject to further official clarification.