ABUJA: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s internal security, declaring that the success of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in the North-east has reinforced his resolve to establish state police.
Speaking during a meeting with the North-east Governors’ Forum, led by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Tinubu noted that local participation in security remains critical. He promised to work with the National Assembly to design a framework for state policing that guarantees community ownership while ensuring political neutrality.
I have seen the resilience of the civilian JTF and local communities. This has again provoked my thinking on state police. Together with the legislature, we can develop a system that empowers communities to defend themselves without political interference,” the President said.
The meeting came as the (Northern Elders Forum (NEF) urged Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Northern Nigeria, citing the extraordinary scale of insecurity. The elders warned that continued inaction could threaten national cohesion and regional stability, following repeated mass killings, abductions, and displacement across the region.
Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal also voiced frustration, insisting banditry in his state could be eliminated within two months if he had direct control over security agencies.
He lamented that while the state provides logistics, tracking facilities, and even community guards, federal command structures often delay or obstruct urgent security responses.
Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, meanwhile, highlighted the exploitation of Nigeria’s porous borders by terrorists, stressing that West Africa and the Sahel have become global epicentres of terrorism.
He called for collective regional action, including activating the ECOWAS Standby Force and harmonising counterterrorism frameworks across member states.
The United Nations added a grim dimension, revealing that in 2024 alone, 1,364 children were recruited by armed groups in West Africa, alongside 466 cases of sexual violence and over 14,000 school closures due to insecurity.
Despite these alarming trends, Tinubu assured the North-east governors of federal backing, praising progress in resettlement, education, and agriculture.
He also emphasised his administration’s push for mechanised farming as part of wider efforts to guarantee food security.
Despite distractions from political manoeuvres, I remain laser-focused on governance and on delivering the dividends of democracy, the President said.
