By Henry Umoru
Following the killings by terrorists in Adamawa and Sokoto states respectively, senators from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under the aegis of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF), have called on the Federal Government, state governors and State Houses of Assembly to give prompt attention and concurrence to the State Police Bill that is currently awaiting ratification.
In a statement on Friday by the Chairman of the Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua (APC, Katsina Central), the Forum urged the Federal Government to, through the Presidential Working Group chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, state governors, and State Houses of Assembly, give prompt attention and concurrence to the State Police Bill currently awaiting ratification.
According to the Northern Senators, decentralised policing is critical to improving response time and intelligence gathering at the grassroots and state and local governments must invest in and strengthen community vigilante groups to serve as intelligence partners to the Police and Military.
The Senators have, in very strong terms, condemned the recent wave of terrorist attacks in Gaya community, Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State and in Ungushi village, Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, which have claimed the lives of over 36 Nigerians, including security personnel and innocent worshippers.
