Kaduna Governor Advocates for State Police as Key to Tackling Nigeria’s Insecurity

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has called for the urgent creation of state police, describing it as crucial to Nigeria’s fight against insecurity. Speaking in Lagos on Tuesday at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs Distinguished Lecture Series, themed “The Role of State Governments in Overcoming Insecurity in Nigeria,” Sani noted that regional security outfits such as the South-West’s Amotekun serve only as temporary stopgaps.

Sani emphasized that governors must be constitutionally empowered to lead security initiatives. “Most bandits carry AK-47s. Vigilance groups like Amotekun are not the solution; they are stopgap measures because they lack constitutional authority to wield such weapons,” he said. Highlighting the shortage of national security personnel—fewer than 400,000 police officers and less than 250,000 military personnel for over 230 million citizens—he stressed that state governments, alongside traditional rulers, are best positioned to address insecurity through localized strategies, dialogue, and socioeconomic renewal.

Citing the Kaduna Peace Model, which combines community engagement, grassroots inclusion, and development programs, Sani argued that sustainable security goes beyond policing. “Where citizens feel abandoned or marginalized, grievances fester and violence erupts. State governments must champion social justice, inclusion, and economic opportunity alongside law enforcement,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, reiterated the need for stronger collaboration among security agencies, analysts, and the media to combat banditry. At the Arewa Media Security Summit in Birnin Kebbi, he highlighted his state’s security investments and community engagement efforts, which have facilitated the resettlement of displaced communities. Likewise, APC Benue State Chairman Benjamin Omale urged youths in Ohinmini Local Government Area to refrain from violence, emphasizing community cooperation and the role of local governance in complementing state and federal security efforts. Collectively, the positions of Kaduna, Kebbi, and Benue leaders underscore a growing consensus that effective security in Nigeria requires state-led policing, community engagement, traditional authority involvement, and multi-level collaboration.