The Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has emphasized the urgency of state policing amidst increasing insecurity in the Northern region.
Sani noted that insecurity can only be curbed with the establishment of state police.
The governor made the remarks shortly after bandits attacked Gindin Duste Makyali in the early hours of Sunday, claiming the lives of at least 12 people in the Kufana District, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The incident, according to sources, occurred around 5am while no fewer than 17 houses were razed.
Sani said, ”In the last six months or thereabout, I have been insisting that we can only address the issue of insecurity if we establish state police.
”I am happy that some few weeks ago, some governors joined me in agitating for state police and it was a lone voice.
”Some governors have also done a lot in the last few months by establishing or empowering the vigilance services.”
Sani noted that normalcy had returned to the affected community and efforts were underway to rescue those abducted by the bandits, adding that the measures employed by his comrades “cannot and can never address the state of insecurity until we agree to collectively agree to establish state police immediately.
”If you have vigilante service or vigilante groups or you have community policing, where is the law that allows them to carry AK-47?
Insecurity in the form of kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery have continued to displace thousands of people, leading to the loss of lives and property in parts of the country.
On Saturday, bandits invaded Kwassam and Sabon Layi Kan Makama communities in Kauru LG of Kaduna State, killing six residents while scores, including a retired director of the Central Bank of Nigeria, were kidnapped.\
The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union confirmed the incident on Saturday, saying no fewer than 50 residents were abducted by the hoodlums.
The debate for the creation of state police in Nigeria primarily stems from the centralised nature of the Nigeria Police Force, which is perceived by many as inadequate for addressing the unique security challenges across the country’s diverse regions.
Proponents argue that the outfit would bring law enforcement closer to the communities they serve, enhance the effectiveness of policing, and allow for more localised control over security matters.
However, those who are against the idea fear that state police could lead to abuse of power, particularly in states with strong political control, potentially exacerbating regional tensions and undermining national unity.
However, the Federal Government and the state governors, during a meeting held on Thursday, mulled the creation of the state police.
