By Abbanobi-Eku Onyeka
Disturbed by the latest killings in Adamawa and Sokoto states, members of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) have called for the immediate establishment and operationalisation of State Police across the country.
The call was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of the Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, representing Katsina Central Senatorial District.
The senators urged the Federal Government, state governors and State Houses of Assembly to give urgent attention to the State Police Bill currently awaiting ratification.
They specifically called for the bill to be prioritised through the Presidential Working Group chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President.
According to the lawmakers, decentralised policing would strengthen security by improving response time and intelligence gathering at the grassroots.
“Decentralized policing is critical to improving response time and intelligence gathering at the grassroots,” the statement said.
The Forum lamented that bureaucratic delays should not continue to frustrate critical security reforms while innocent Nigerians are being killed by insurgents and terrorists.
“We cannot continue to lose innocent lives to insurgents while bureaucracy delays critical security reforms. The time to act is now,” the senators said.
The NSF condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Gaya community, Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, and Ungushi village, Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The attacks, according to the Forum, claimed the lives of more than 36 Nigerians, including security personnel and innocent worshippers.
The senators commiserated with the families of the victims and prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed, while wishing those injured a speedy recovery.
The Forum also urged state and local governments to invest in and strengthen community vigilante groups, describing them as important intelligence partners to the police and military in the fight against insecurity.
The senators maintained that the current security challenges required urgent and coordinated action, insisting that the establishment of State Police should no longer be delayed.
