By Sochima Agbo 

...Say Centralised System Can No Longer Tackle Insecurity

Northern governors and traditional rulers have reaffirmed strong support for the creation of state police, insisting that decentralising Nigeria’s policing structure has become unavoidable in the face of rising insecurity across the region.

The leaders made their position known in a communiqué issued after a high-level meeting in Kaduna, where they reviewed the persistent security challenges affecting northern communities, including banditry, mass abductions, farmer–herder clashes, and disruptions to economic activities.

Hosted by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and chaired by Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya, the meeting warned that Nigeria’s centralised police system is overstretched and incapable of effectively policing a population of over 200 million people, particularly in remote and ungoverned areas.

Governor Sani said the North is grappling with an increasingly complex security environment that demands reforms tailored to local realities. He dismissed claims that northern governors have been complacent, describing such views as politically motivated and unreflective of ongoing collaborative efforts.

According to him, fewer than 400,000 police personnel are currently available nationwide, leaving many rural communities without adequate protection. He noted that governors have created an “informal peer review mechanism” to share intelligence and adopt successful security strategies across states.

Gombe Governor Yahaya echoed the call for state police, stressing that insecurity affects northerners across religious and ethnic lines. He commended President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to stabilise the country but maintained that devolving policing powers is essential for sustained progress.

Yahaya urged leaders to avoid divisive rhetoric, warning that disunity strengthens the resolve of criminal elements. He added that insecurity remains tied to deep-rooted issues such as poverty, illiteracy, climate pressures, and long-standing underdevelopment, which must be addressed alongside policing reforms.

At the end of the meeting, governors and traditional rulers pledged to strengthen collaboration, enhance community-level security engagements, and support reforms that enable more responsive policing. They called on the Federal Government to expedite the process of establishing state police nationwide.