19 northern governors have demanded the creation of state police.

 

The governors in collaboration with all the traditional rulers in the region called for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to give legal backing to state police. 

 

The resolution was captured in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) and the Northern Traditional Rulers Council (NTRC) held on Monday night in Abuja. 

 

Daily Trust reported that the Northern leaders said this is the only way to tackle the myriad security challenges affecting the region and the country at large, among them banditry, insurgency, kidnapping and other forms of criminalities.

 

The meeting was attended by Chairman of NGF and Plateau State governor, Simon Bako Lalong; Gombe State governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya; Katsina State governor, Aminu Bello Masari; Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai; Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Borno State governor, Babagana Umara Zulum; Niger State governor, Abubakar Sani Bello; Taraba State governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku; and deputy governors of Adamawa, Benue, Nasarawa and Jigawa states respectively. 

 

Traditional rulers present included the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III; Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi; Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero; Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli; Emir of Fika, Alhaji Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa; Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad; Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Muhammad Ahmad, Emir of Gumi, Justice Lawal Hassan Gumi; Attah Igala, Mathew Opaluwa; Ochi’Idoma, Pastor John Elaigwu; and Aku Uka of Wukari, Elder Manu Ishaku Adda Ali, among others. 

 

Lalong who read the communiqué after the meeting held at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, said they reviewed the security situation in the North and other matters relating to its development and resolved to support the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to accommodate the establishment of state police. 

 

He added;

 

“This will effectively and efficiently address the security challenges of the region.”

  

The Northern leaders who also reiterated their commitment to the development of solar energy in view of the comparative advantage of abundant sunshine in the region, reached a decision of 2,000 megawatts of solar power being harvested across the 19 states and FCT with a view to harnessing the huge potential of power from solar.