Some bold moves made recently by residents of some communities in some northern states to stop the incessant attacks on their community by terrorists and to rescue the victims are not only commendable, but they reinforce the trenchant call for state police in the efforts to stem the escalating insecurity in the country.

Section 14, sub-section 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stipulates that the security of life and property is the primary responsibility of the government. But since the menace of terrorism started in the country, there have been numerous cases of mass killing and kidnap of innocent people in many remote communities without security agencies being present to confront the criminals or to rescue the victims, many of whom went missing for years. Among the reasons that have been adduced for this is the impossibility of the government, in the meantime, to deploy armed forces personnel in every nook and cranny of the country, a situation that the criminals have taken advantage of.

Resort to self-help by communities can hardly be faulted, in the absence of government or security authorities; and in the face of persistent annihilation of community members. Yet, the development can make insecurity in the country more complex. Weapons can fall into the wrong hands, and members can abuse the situation to carry out personal vengeance. Although some state governments have pledged support for some of the communities affected, a security system in the form of state police will guarantee the presence of the personnel in the communities and involve the locals in the task of ensuring the safety of life and property is the way to go.

One of the recent bold moves against terrorists was made by residents of Matusgi in Talata Mafara, Zamfara State who were informed of the planned invasion, and in the spirit of self-defence, they came out en mass, armed with local weapons, including fabricated guns; and courageously waited for the arrival of the terrorists. The Matsugi community successfully repelled the invasion, killing 24 of the terrorists and forcing the hoodlums to retreat.

Similarly, residents of Gobir in Sokoto State, in their thousands, recently stormed the forests to rescue about 150 kidnapped compatriots and also recover the remains of the district head of Gobir, Isa Mohammad Bawa, who was abducted and killed by terrorists.

Following the successes being recorded, and worried at the rate at which residents of Katsina State are dying in “a humiliating manner,” Governor Dikko Radda has urged the communities to defend themselves against terrorists and other criminal elements, disclosing the plan by his administration to support terrorised communities to confront invading attackers. At the launching of the state community development programmes, Radda said it had become unhelpful for the communities to depend solely on government security agencies, encouraging them to brace for self-defence.

What happened in Matsugi and Gobir communities and which may spread to other states is usually the case when most probably the people are not satisfied or happy with the way the government is handling its constitutional responsibility of protecting them. They then resolve to give effect to the declaration by renowned playwright, Williams Shakespeare that every bondman in his own hands bears the power to cancel his captivity.

Despite the claim by the government that it is winning the war against terrorism, media reports daily reveal that scores of innocent people are being killed and many others kidnapped for ransom, especially in the northern part of the country, as if there are no security agencies. In many communities across the country, the residents now live in constant fear of being killed or kidnapped by terrorists who operate freely in many places.

Five months after the residents of Allawa in Shiroro Local Council of Niger State fled their homes following the withdrawal of soldiers from the area, terrorists have moved into the community, engaging in farming, slaughtering the chickens and pounding the yams left behind by the residents for food.

Researchers from the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa (OFRA) reported recently that over 55,910 civilian deaths due to insecurity were recorded in Nigeria between October 2019 and September 2023. The OFRA report coincided with the release of yet another by the SB Morgan (SBM) Intelligence which revealed that Nigeria’s security crisis was becoming increasingly complex with armed groups and non-state actors exploiting the weakened influence of the country. The evil groups listed include Boko Haram in the North East, armed gangs in the North West and North Central, secessionist violence in the South East, and gang-related issues in the South West. Amid these diverse security threats, there has been widespread kidnapping for ransom, with 1,665 abducted in 2020, 5,907 in 2021, 7,705 in 2022, and 6,255 in 2023.  There was outrage recently when 20 medical students of the Benue State University who were in a school bus travelling through the Ugbokolo area to Makurdi were kidnapped by terrorists.

There have been reports of other killings and kidnap of innocent people, particularly in the northern parts of the country, since then.

It is unacceptable to watch terrorists kill Nigerians as if there is no government in the country. Excuses are no longer tenable. The government should set machinery in motion for the creation of state police that will recruit locals who have deep knowledge of the environment, can gather intelligence on the activities of criminals, identify terrorists and stay in the locality to protect innocent residents. It is now obvious that in some localities, the people are ready to collaborate with government security agencies to confront and defeat terrorists if adequately armed.

The presidency should send a bill to the National Assembly for amendment of the relevant law to allow vigilante organisations or security groups being set up by some state governments to be appropriately armed to defend their people against the seemingly intractable terrorism, kidnapping and other terrible crimes, preparatory to the establishment of state police.

To address the fears of those who are opposed to state police, a national summit of serving and retired military and police personnel, private security experts, and other crucial stakeholders should be convened to discuss and make recommendations on how to ensure that the state police do not lead to arms proliferation, perpetration of other criminal activities by the arms bearers, and abuse by state governors who may use it to oppress opponents, persecute perceived enemies,  rig elections and commit other illegalities.

The callous disregard for human life by terrorists and other hardened criminals in Nigeria must stop.