President Bola Tinubu has said the establishment of state police is unavoidable, as part of efforts to strengthen security across the country.
The President’s declaration came as Northern elders yesterday urged him to declare a state of emergency in the North, following protracted insecurity that has devastated the socio-economic life and development of the region.
It came on a day, the president of Mzough U Tiv UK (MUTUK), Victor Aleva, also said nothing had changed in Yelewata since President Tinubu visited Benue State, in the wake of the deadly herdsmen’s attack on the community, which claimed over 200 lives in June.
This is even as Senator Ali Ndume said Boko Haram terrorists are blind to faith as they target Christians, Muslims, as well as those who don’t believe in either of the two.
The President’s declaration drew the excitement of stakeholders in the polity, especially regional socio-political and cultural groups, which have been at the forefront of the call for state police in the country.
They include the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere; its counterpart in the north, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF; and the Middle Belt Forum, MBF.
Speaking at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during a courtesy visit by a delegation of prominent Katsina indigenes, led by Governor Dikko Radda, late Tuesday, Tinubu said the Federal Government is committed to confronting insecurity head-on.
The President reiterated the declaration when he met with governors of the North-East yesterday, stressing that there is need to discuss with the National Assembly leadership on the issue.
He directed security agencies to reassess their operations in Katsina State, which has witnessed a spike in banditry, and disclosed that advanced military equipment and surveillance technology would be deployed.
While also revealing plans to enhance the capacity of newly-recruited forest guards in the state, Tinubu stressed that while the country faces serious security challenges, they can be resolved with determination and strategy.
He said, “The security challenges that we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we have porous borders. We inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. It is a challenge that we must fix, and we are facing it.
“I have directed all the security agencies to energise further and look at the strategies. We have approved the additional acquisition of drones.”
The president further instructed that he be given daily updates on security operations in Katsina, saying: “I am reviewing all the aspects of security; I have to create a state police. We are looking at that holistically.
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