It’s Now Inevitable!” — Gov Sule Reveals 35 Governors Have Approved State Police

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has reiterated the urgent need for the creation of state police, warning that Nigeria could face worsening insecurity without structural reforms.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking on Arise News on Tuesday, Sule said most state governors had backed the proposal long before the recent spike in nationwide abductions.

“Over six months ago, 35 out of 36 governors agreed that we need state police,” he stated.

He added that the decision now rests not only with the Federal Government and governors, but also with the National Assembly.

According to the governor, calls for decentralised policing are not new. “People think this issue just started, but lawmakers have been handling it for months,” he said.

Sule also addressed reports of school closures across northern states. He explained that Nasarawa chose not to shut down its schools after security assessments showed that the threats were not widespread.

“We’re fortunate not to have cases of our children being taken. Instead, we deployed joint security teams to vulnerable areas,” he said.

He added that the state has enough resources to operate its own police force. “We don’t need 20,000 officers. Even 5,000 well-paid, motivated, and equipped personnel would effectively secure the state,” he said.

Sule Reacts to the Release of Kebbi Schoolgirls

The governor commended President Bola Tinubu, the Kebbi governor, and security agencies for the rescue of 24 abducted schoolgirls but said the greatest relief goes to their parents.

“It is always extremely difficult when a child is kidnapped,” he said.

Sule stressed that Nigeria’s insecurity crisis, though severe, is not new. He recalled similar waves of kidnapping in the Niger Delta between 2006 and 2008, noting that such problems eventually subsided.

Comparing Nigeria’s situation to global experiences, he cited how long it took the US to track the Unabomber despite advanced technology. “We are dealing with multiple criminals, some coming from across borders, and sometimes with family members collaborating,” he added.

On the Northern Governors’ Meeting

Sule clarified that the upcoming emergency meeting of northern governors was planned weeks ago, not prompted by recent events. He noted that the meetings typically involve traditional rulers led by the Sultan of Sokoto, which makes scheduling difficult.

On Nigeria’s Partnership With the US

The governor welcomed the new US-Nigeria security collaboration, but urged the country to seek support from other nations, including neighbouring Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

He also praised President Tinubu for his “calm and mature” responses to international commentary, including remarks from former US President Donald Trump.

On UN Hunger Report

Responding to a UN World Food Programme report claiming insecurity has worsened hunger in northern Nigeria, Sule questioned the accuracy of the data.

“I haven’t seen the report, but some of these findings are not always accurate,” he said, adding that food prices in Nasarawa have fallen and salaries have improved.

He highlighted the state’s harvest of 3,300 hectares of rice under the “Nasarawa Rice, Nassu” project, which will be sold at affordable rates.