The Northern Senators Forum has renewed calls for urgent security reforms following deadly terrorist attacks in Adamawa and Sokoto states.
The senators, representing the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, urged the Federal Government, governors and state assemblies to expedite action on the State Police Bill.
In a statement by the forum’s chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, the lawmakers said decentralised policing would improve response time and intelligence gathering at the grassroots.
They also called on state and local governments to strengthen community vigilante groups and make them effective intelligence partners for security agencies.
The forum condemned the attacks in Gaya community in Adamawa and Ungushi village in Sokoto, where more than 36 people, including security personnel and worshippers, were reportedly killed.
The senators commiserated with the families of the victims and called for immediate action to prevent further attacks.
“We cannot continue to lose innocent lives to insurgents while bureaucracy delays critical security reforms. The time to act is now”, the forum said.
The senators also prayed for the recovery of those injured in the attacks.
