In this piece, Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka writes that as terrorists kill 36 in Adamawa and Sokoto, the Northern Senators Forum says Nigeria has run out of excuses. For years the State Police Bill has stalled in Abuja. Now, lawmakers from the North are asking: how many more lives before we decentralize policing?
The Blood in Hong and Kebbe
Friday’s statement from the Northern Senators Forum came with grief attached. In Gaya community, Hong LGA of Adamawa, and Ungushi village, Kebbe LGA of Sokoto, terrorists killed over 36 Nigerians. The dead included security personnel and worshippers.
We Cannot Continue Like this
“We cannot continue to lose innocent lives to insurgents while bureaucracy delays critical security reforms. The time to act is now,” the Senators declared. The statement was signed by their Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, Katsina Central.
The Demand: Pass State Police Bill Now
The Forum’s message was direct. They urged the Federal Government, through the Presidential Working Group chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, as well as State Governors and State Houses of Assembly, to give “prompt attention and concurrence” to the State Police Bill currently awaiting ratification.
Why They Say It’s Urgent
For the Senators, the logic is simple: “Decentralized policing is critical to improving response time and intelligence gathering at the grassroots.” When attacks happen in remote villages, they argue, waiting for directives from Abuja costs lives.
A Bill that Has Stalled for Years
The State Police Bill is not new. Versions of it have been in the National Assembly since 2018. It seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow states to establish, fund and control their own police. But it has faced resistance over fears of abuse by governors.
The Presidential Working Group
To break the deadlock, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated a Presidential Working Group earlier this year to review the bill and harmonize positions with governors. The Northern Senators are now telling that group: move faster.
Governors and State Assemblies in the Spotlight
Even if the National Assembly passes it, the bill needs ratification by 24 of 36 State Houses of Assembly. That’s why the Forum called on governors and lawmakers at state level to stop foot-dragging.
Beyond State Police: Vigilantes
The Senators also said State and Local Governments must “invest in and strengthen community vigilante groups to serve as intelligence partners to the Police and Military.” To them, formal and informal security must work together.
A Pattern of Attacks
Adamawa and Sokoto are not new to terror. From Boko Haram in the North-East to bandits in the North-West, communities have been overrun while response times lag. The 36 deaths last week were just the latest tally.
The Human Cost
“The Northern Senators Forum strongly condemns the recent wave of terrorist attacks… which have claimed the lives of over 36 Nigerians,” the statement read. The Forum also prayed “for the repose of the souls of the departed and for the speedy recovery of those injured.”
The Political Tension
State Police is one of Nigeria’s most divisive reforms. Proponents say it’s the only way to secure a country of 220 million people. Opponents fear governors will turn state police into private militias. That debate has kept the bill in limbo.
What Changes if It Passes?
If ratified, states could recruit, train and deploy police based on local realities. A senator from Sokoto would no longer have to wait for a police commissioner posted from Abuja to act on intelligence from Kebbe.
The Senators’ Frustration
The tone of the Forum’s statement shows frustration. After years of condolence visits and security meetings, they are saying the architecture itself is the problem.
What Happens Next
The bill is back with the Presidential Working Group. Governors are under pressure. State Assemblies will be lobbied. For families in Hong and Kebbe, the question is no longer political — it’s survival.
Final Word
“The time to act is now,” the Senators repeated. For the Northern Senators Forum, 36 more deaths are 36 reasons too many to keep centralized policing as it is. Whether Nigeria listens this time may define security for the next decade.
