Northern senators have renewed their demand for the immediate establishment of state police following fresh terrorist attacks in Adamawa and Sokoto states that left more than 36 people dead.
The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) said the latest killings have again exposed the limitations of Nigeria’s centralised policing system.
According to them, it affected particularly in remote communities where security threats can develop faster than federal security agencies can respond.
The forum made the demand in a statement issued on Friday, August 21, 2026, and signed by its Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, representing Katsina Central Senatorial District.
The senators urged the Federal Government, state governors and Houses of Assembly to move quickly on the State Police Bill.
They also called on the Presidential Working Group on police reforms, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to give the legislation urgent attention.
The demand followed attacks recorded in Gaya community, Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, and Ungushi village, Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
According to the Northern Senators Forum, the two incidents claimed the lives of more than 36 Nigerians, including security personnel and worshippers.
The lawmakers described the situation as unacceptable and warned that further delays in changing the country’s security structure could expose more communities to attacks.
The forum said, “Decentralized policing is critical to improving response time and intelligence gathering at the grassroots.”
It added, “We cannot continue to lose innocent lives to insurgents while bureaucracy delays critical security reforms. The time to act is now.”
In Adamawa, suspected Boko Haram insurgents reportedly attacked Gaya community on Monday night, August 17.
Eight people were killed in the incident, including a police inspector and seven civilians. Two houses were also reportedly set ablaze during the attack.
The Sokoto incident was recorded at Ungushi village in Kebbe Local Government Area.
Suspected Lakurawa fighters attacked worshippers during Friday prayers on August 15. About 30 people were reportedly killed in the attack.
The incident occurred after four soldiers were killed in the area earlier that day.
For the Northern Senators Forum, the problem is not only the availability of security personnel.
The lawmakers believe the structure through which security is managed also needs to change.
They argued that police officers operating closer to communities would have better knowledge of local terrain, residents and emerging threats.
Such knowledge, they said, could help security agencies gather information before attacks occur.
The senators also urged state and local governments to strengthen community vigilante groups.
They said such groups could work as intelligence partners with the police and military, particularly in rural areas where conventional security agencies may have limited presence.
The forum commiserated with the families of those killed in Adamawa and Sokoto. It also expressed sympathy to the governments and people of both states and prayed for the recovery of those injured.
In a related development, the Senate had already taken a major step towards the establishment of state police.
On June 11, 2026, the State Police Bill scaled second reading in the Senate and was referred to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for further consideration.
The bill was sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.
During the debate, Bamidele argued that Nigeria’s security challenges required a different approach to policing.
“Nigerians have consistently called for the establishment of State Police, citing the inability of a centralised policing structure to adequately respond to the complex, evolving and localised security threats facing our communities,” Bamidele said on June 11.
He also rejected concerns that the proposed system would weaken the country.
“Rather, it strengthens the Federation by enabling each level of government to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities,” he stated.
The Senate later moved the process further.
On June 24, 2026, senators approved the constitutional amendment establishing state police after considering the proposal during a wider review of the 1999 Constitution.
The measure still requires approval by at least 24 of the 36 state Houses of Assembly before it can become part of the Constitution.
The proposed arrangement is designed to retain the Federal Police Service for national responsibilities while allowing states that adopt the system to operate their own police services.
Under the proposal, state police would focus mainly on local law enforcement, public safety, crime prevention and other responsibilities within their jurisdictions.
Federal authorities would retain responsibility for issues such as counter-terrorism, interstate crimes, border security and other national security matters.
