Many Nigerians especially those living in communities daily tormented by terrorists, bandits, herdsmen and other criminal elements nationwide, should welcome wholeheartedly, the recent stand of the 19 governors in northern Nigeria throwing their weight behind the long agitation for the creation of state police as part of renewed efforts to strengthen the national security architecture to deal decisively with worsening insecurity in the land.
We fully support the governors’ charge to the National Assembly to accelerate action on the relevant bill and constitutional amendment that will birth state police expected to further boost the personnel and operational firepower of the nation’s central police force in the onerous responsibility of providing internal security as well as safeguarding lives and property of citizens.
Recall that before the latest backing, opinions seemed divided even among the governors on the necessity or otherwise of the security outfit in states following the recent meeting of the National Economic Council, NEC, presided over by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, with governors of the 36 states as members. State police creation wasn’t listed in the agenda thereby fueling speculation that the issue has been swept under the carpet.
But the governors under the aegis of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF). In a communique issued at the end of their meeting with the Northern Traditional Rulers Council (NTRC) at the Government House, Kaduna, urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the enactment of the legal framework for the take-off of the state police and demanded an immediate review of Nigeria’s security strategies in order to contain the resurgence of Boko Haram deadly activities in some parts of the North-east, killings by bandits in the North-west and North-central, as well as the general insecurity across the country.
At the parley too, fears hitherto expressed in various quarters, that governors could abuse state police if established, were promptly allayed by Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, who pointed out that the legal framework to be enacted by the National Assembly will certainly, restrict the power of state police to the fight against insecurity and criminalities and not allowed to dabble into political cases.
It is also note worthy that while expressing condolences to the governments and people of Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, and Yobe states over the recent tragic killings in the affected states, the governors declared that, “These mindless acts of violence against innocent citizens remind us of the urgent need to redouble our security efforts and ensure that adequate security measures are vigorously implemented for the safety of our people”.
The resurgence of Boko Haram activities in some parts of the North-east and the outbreak of violent killings in the North-central they contended, require immediate review of strategies and greater synergy between federal, state and local security architectures even as they resolved to liaise with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to work out modalities of how to increase support to the federal security forces and strengthen peculiar local initiatives in combating all forms of security challenges.
In our view therefore, the unequivocal support for the creation of state police in the immediate future, couldn’t have come at a better time than now, considering the nation’s seeming intractable security challenges ranging from Boko Haram’s insurgency in the North-east; agitation for independence by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the South-east; violent conflicts involving Fulani herdsmen with farming communities over land and resources, resulting in loss of lives and property; widespread kidnapping for ransom, in the North-west and North-central regions as well as the emergence of Lukerawa and Mahmudah among various criminal groups involved in banditry, cattle rustling, and violent clashes that undermine security in rural and semi-urban areas.
Again, before the confidence vote for state policing, a one time Minister of Defence, retired Lt. General T. Y. Danjuma reiterated his earlier charge particularly to the people of Taraba, his home state not to fold their arms and allow bandits and terrorists to overrun their communities, apparently in direct response to the endless killings of law abiding citizens nationwide.
Specifically he asserted that, “We cannot continue to sit and watch while bandits, terrorists, and criminal gangs massacre our people unchecked… It is now very clear that the government alone cannot protect us. We must stand up and defend ourselves, our families, and our lands before these criminals overrun the entire country”.
Although we are totally opposed to any resort to self defence, as advocated, by citizens, because of its inherent dangers, including the temptation to embrace jungle justice which is antithetical to the rule of law in which every suspect is presumed innocent until convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction, it is our view that the creation of state police as soon as possible, will go a long way to addressing worsening insecurity across the country.
Similarly, given her massive population of over 200million people, the Nigerian security architecture is clearly grossly under-policed relative to international standards set by the United Nations (UN) which recommends a policing ratio of at least 1 officer per 450 citizens to ensure effective law enforcement and public safety, a benchmark aimed at facilitating community policing, crime prevention, and quick response to emergencies.
Therefore, applying this standard to Nigeria’s population of over 200 million means a need for about 444,000 police officers even though the strength of her police force currently stands at no fewer than 400,000 officers and men —a figure, that barely meets the minimum requirement and falls short of the ideal ratio, especially given the country’s numerous security challenges coupled with the fact that a considerable number of these personnel are attached permanently to public office holders and prominent citizens on guard duties.
Consequently, the birth of state police in our view, will enable the states to recruit many officers and build sufficient capacity to address the current disparity between the security demands and available personnel such that together with federal police, they will be able to deliver on their statutory mandate of maintaining internal security, safeguard lives and property while allowing the Armed Forces concentrate on their constitutional role of defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
Like many citizens, we are deeply worried by recent findings by research experts from Nextier SPD which reported that over 100 military personnel and 200 civilians were killed by Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria within five weeks stressing that between November 2024 and April 2025, more than 252 attacks were carried out by terrorist groups thus reinforcing the urgent need to beef up security nationwide.
The Nextier SPD Policy Weekly report entitled: “Re-thinking Nigeria’s Counterinsurgency Strategy: The Aftermath of the Boko Haram Resurgence,” not only examined the current counter-insurgency strategy, analyzed the evolving dynamics of the insurgency, but proposed a comprehensive framework that integrates military efforts with governance reforms, inclusive dialogue, and socio-economic revitalization.
It is our believe too, that the revelation by the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen. Christopher Musa linking the resurgence of terrorists’ attacks in Nigeria’s North-east to aggravated insecurity in the Sahel region particularly across porous borders with her neighbors, should serve as a wake-up call and underscores the urgent need for government not only to overhaul the nation’s security architecture through large-scale recruitment, but improved budgetary funding for training, and operational needs, deployment of modern technology such as surveillance, data analytics, use of drones and communication tools to enhance operational efficiency of troops.
We challenge the Senate and the House of Representatives to heed the patriotic call of the northern governors to speedily effect an amendment of the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the establishment of state police which coupled with above recommended additional measures no doubt, will put the country in better stead to win the current war on terror, defeat the criminals and stop the massacre of innocent people to engender lasting peace and tranquility.
It is only in a peaceful environment where lives and property are adequately safeguarded that meaningful social, economic and technological development can take place.
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