Uba Sani, the Governor of Kaduna State, has emphasized the necessity of implementing state policing in response to the escalating insecurity in the Northern region of Nigeria.
He stressed that the establishment of state police is imperative to effectively address the prevailing insecurity challenges.
While acknowledging the support of some Northern state governors for the idea of state police, Sani highlighted that vigilante services serve as interim solutions primarily focused on intelligence gathering and sharing.
Sani made these remarks during his appearance as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics program.
His comments come in the wake of a deadly attack by bandits on Gindin Duste Makyali village in the Kufana District, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The assailants killed at least 12 people and set ablaze approximately 17 houses during the assault, which occurred around 5 am on Sunday.
Sani expressed gratitude for the return of calm to the affected community and ongoing efforts to rescue those abducted by the bandits. However, he underscored that lasting solutions to insecurity require the immediate establishment of state police.
He questioned the legality of arming vigilante groups and community policing initiatives with weapons like AK-47 rifles, emphasizing the need for a legal framework to guide their operations.
The pervasive insecurity in Nigeria, manifested in forms such as kidnapping, banditry, and armed robbery, has resulted in the displacement of thousands of people and significant loss of lives and property.
Recent incidents, including the invasion of Kwassam and Sabon Layi Kan Makama communities in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where six residents were killed and several others, including a retired Central Bank of Nigeria director, were abducted, further highlight the urgent need for enhanced security measures.
The debate over the creation of state police in Nigeria reflects concerns about the centralised nature of the Nigeria Police Force, with proponents advocating for its decentralisation to better address regional security challenges.
While some fear potential abuse of power associated with state police, recent discussions between the Federal Government and state governors indicate a willingness to explore the possibility of establishing state police as part of broader efforts to enhance security across the country.
