Ogun State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Dapo Abiodun, has declared that the creation of state police is now an unavoidable step in addressing Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
Speaking at his Iperu-Remo country home in Ikenne Local Government Area on Wednesday, where he hosted his counterparts from the South, Abiodun said recent coordinated attacks on schoolchildren and worshippers proved that no region is immune from banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism.
Governors present included Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Alex Otti (Abia), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Chukwuma Soludo (Anambra), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), and Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo). Deputy governors from Osun, Oyo, Cross River, and Edo also attended.
Abiodun commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as “exceptional leadership” in recent rescue operations, noting the President’s direct involvement in coordinating responses to mass abductions.
“Distinguished colleagues, as we deliberate on the security architecture of Southern Nigeria, it is important to state clearly that the creation of state police remains a non-negotiable component of our collective demand for true federalism and effective grassroots security,” Abiodun said.
He argued that devolving policing powers to states would improve intelligence gathering, early-warning systems, and protection of schools, farmlands, border communities, and critical infrastructure. “The recent incidents across the country reinforce the urgency of decentralising policing so that states can take direct responsibility for safeguarding their citizens,” he added.
The governor stressed that the South must present a united front on national security reforms. He revealed that the forum would also meet with traditional rulers to strengthen community-based security, describing them as “custodians of culture, mediators of community affairs, and the closest authority to the grassroots.”
“Together, we will build a Southern Nigeria where cooperation replaces rivalry, where joint development initiatives flourish, and where every citizen experiences the true dividends of stability and good governance,” Abiodun said.
He warned that the rapid spread of insecurity showed geography was no longer a guarantee of safety, especially in a region with seaports, highways, and industrial corridors.
The meeting comes amid renewed outrage over mass abductions in the North. Last week, bandits stormed St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, abducting more than 300 pupils and 12 teachers, just days after 26 schoolgirls were kidnapped from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State.