Saturday Southerner —Another View 

Saturday, March 7, 2026

For many years, armed militants in the guise of religion have attacked the country, killed many, abducted several for ransom, maimed lives and burnt several homes and property. They have not stopped or taken a break but have increased in size, number and criminal activities.

It is just about time for them to over run the country. Nigeria has been bleeding for many years, blood on the streets, shattered bones and body parts, and graves at every corner of Nigerian towns and villages.

Till date, survivors are wailing over lost family members, destroyed property and shattered lives. Fathers, mothers, youths and children have been destabilized and completely dehumanized by these elements left by the authorities to freely kill God-created souls. These attacks on Nigerians are not what cannot be countered by our military and police but politics and religious sentiments have been allowed to derail the co-ordination of the security system.

The Nigerian Military has failed the people and country. They have failed in utilizing their intelligence, rolling out tanks and other arsenals to defend the country and the lives of citizens, what the constitution clearly empowers them to do.

In several communities there are all manner of killing squads existing as cult groups and ethnic militias. These gangs have severally killed and caused havoc in our communities. They dictate how the social and economic life of the society functions. Security agencies have not deployed enough personnel, intelligence and materials to curtail these boys. The citizens are at their mercy.

In real terms the country has lost greatly as far as insecurity is concerned. The social and economic life of the country has been mortgaged. Yet, the government’s nonchalant approach at curtailing the insecurity in the country is appalling and disgraceful. The government has not in all fairness acted seriously in the protection of her citizens. They have looked the other way or so it seems while people are massacred in their hundreds.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent request to the National Assembly for the enactment of a law establishing State Police in the country before the end of 2026 is the way to go. This move should be commended and supported by all well-meaning Nigerians. The demand by the president is in the right direction. The country’s rising insecurity obviously needs something more radical and local. The states reliance on Abuja for security commands cannot continue to exist to our advantage. Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder except something urgent. Something must be done to check these vandals.nNigeria is on the verge of an explosion.

No doubt, the prevailing security challenges in the country, require the establishment of state police and total overhauling of the police system in Nigeria. It is pertinent for every state and the FCT to own its their own police and attend to the immediate and particular security concerns in the state and region. Nigeria is ripe for that level of security architecture. It is time to embrace social and economic advancement.

Community engagement and policing will help strengthen security in every local area. Nigeria is in a precarious situation and, something fundamental must be done to attend to it.

There is no safe place in Nigeria. Every nook and cranny of the country is under the control of these bandits and terrorist gangs. Nigerians now travel in fear. We sleep with one eye open. The presence of State Police with well spelt out laws, under the control of the governors will surely reduce the height of the criminality in our forests. Although some state executives may abuse their powers, but with vibrant civil society groups, ever conscious citizenry and the international community, they will be called to question when they overstep their bounds.

With the creation of State Police, Amotekun, the local vigilante group in the South West, for instance, will be more empowered to take over their forests and chase away the criminal elements hiding in their bushes committing heinous crimes. Same for other regions.

We must rise up to face reality. The reality in Nigeria presently is that, some foreign religious bigots have been unleashed on the country to achieve a religious and ethnic agenda that is unfavorable. But of course, it’s not going to work. The effect will be bloodbath in the country. Nigeria’s security is paramount and should not be compromised. We must take decisive actions to reclaim Nigeria. We cannot continue to condone our security to be in the hands of terrorist gangs whose only objective is to Islamize the country.

In a recent message, His Eminence, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, decried the level of decay in the country. He lamented the grave insecurity in the country, spoke about how cheaply people are being slaughtered, effect of bad leadership and worsening economy as major causes of the present Nigerian situation.

In the same clarity, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria expressed dismay at the troubling situation. In a message released to newsmen, they posited; “We continue to experience tragic events of senseless massacre, mass burials, endless tears, and grief. There are incidents of mass murders in different communities.” The Bishops acknowledged that bad leadership has caused the country systemic damage.

If the federal government will through the NASS formulate a law and properly organize the State Police with Nigeria’s survival at the back of their mind, that would help solve the security challenge in the country. A well trained, equipped and armed police in our states, controlled by the Chief Executive will resist any invasion by some hoodlums into the state. Nigeria is very mature and financially buoyant to own a State Police and, it has become very urgent taking into cognizance the insecurity all over the place.

A State Police will help strengthen national security instead of its present fragmentation. State Police will help improve the security responsiveness, bring security closer to the people and encourage accountability at all times. Obviously, members of the police will be persons from the region who understand the terrain, rules and principles governing the society, culture, custom, language, tradition and religion of the locals.

Late Inoocent Chukwuma, former West African Director at Ford Foundation and founder of CLEEN Foundation allayed the fears of people who oppose state police. He defended state police by saying that, state policing is practiced in India, Brazil, America and other democracies of the world but there are still challenges of corruption, lack of accountability, discrimination, abuse, misuse of power, etc, found in those system. Yet, they have recorded tremendous efforts in local policing.

In forming state police, Nigerian government must have a clear view, understanding, psychology, philosophy and sociology of police and other security agencies. The government should in the formation of state police involve members of the public; Labour Union, Civil Society, Academia, NBA, NMA, Traditional institutions, Religious bodies, Traders Associations, and other professional bodies, etc., realizing that, we are talking of local policing.

Nigeria, presently is on the cliff hanger. The economy is tough. There is serious suffering, hardship, hunger, growing unemployment, insecurity, religious and ethnic suspicion that, the government must fold up their sleeve to tackle. It is the government’s full responsibility to improve on the economy for the well-being of its citizens and that cannot be achieved without the protection of lives and property. No country on earth with Nigeria’s kind of economic situation and leadership style will remain peaceful. There is a time bomb in the horizon.

Nigerian leaders must prioritize security and good governance as headway to achieving peace and progress. They must do all possible to build security for all and in every part. Establishing State Police is one strong path to avoid the ticking time bomb in the country.

President Tinubu should damn all consequences and ensure State Police is established. We must end the killings now. Security will herald an economic turn-around for good if we must remain as a country.