Western Nigeria Commission Sounds Alarm on National Security Crisis
The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission has issued a stark warning about Nigeria's deteriorating security situation, calling for immediate federal legislative reforms to create state police forces across the country.
In a strongly worded statement published on its website on Thursday, November 20, 2025, the commission described Nigeria as being at a critical crossroads where terrorist groups, bandits, and criminal elements have become increasingly bold in their violent attacks against innocent citizens and communities.
Nation Under Siege: The Current Security Reality
The commission painted a grim picture of a nation under siege, noting that every geopolitical zone in Nigeria is currently experiencing coordinated attacks by violent criminals. Daily reports of killings, mass abductions, and destruction of livelihoods have become commonplace across the country.
According to DAWN Commission, the Nigerian Army, despite its valiant efforts, is being stretched beyond its capacity. Brave soldiers are simultaneously fighting multiple battles against insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, and escalating communal and herdsmen clashes throughout the Middle Belt region.
"It is evident that without urgent legislative action to empower states to develop their own policing and intelligence structures, the country risks sliding into a total breakdown of law and order," the commission emphasized.
Recent Attacks Highlight Urgent Need for Reform
The commission pointed to several recent incidents that demonstrate the severity of the security crisis. Communities in Benue State have been completely razed by marauding herdsmen, resulting in numerous fatalities and thousands of displaced persons.
Both Christian and Muslim worshippers have faced attacks in their places of worship, while in Kebbi State, bandits brazenly abducted schoolchildren in broad daylight, highlighting the state's inability to protect its youngest citizens.
These ruthless and inhumane attacks leave trails of blood across affected communities. Even urban centers previously considered safe havens are now vulnerable, with highway attacks and residential area invasions becoming increasingly common, spreading fear among citizens nationwide.
The situation has become so critical that the Trump administration in the United States has recently threatened foreign intervention, citing reports of genocide against Christians in Nigeria. DAWN Commission warned that such external pressures could further complicate Nigeria's fragile ethno-religious relationships, displace millions more citizens, and severely undermine the country's sovereignty and future stability.
The Case for State Police: Benefits and Safeguards
The commission outlined compelling advantages of establishing state police, emphasizing that localized policing would enable intelligence gathering rooted in community knowledge, allowing for faster and more precise responses to security threats.
This approach would empower individual states to develop security strategies tailored to their unique challenges, whether combating banditry in the North-West, addressing militancy in the Niger Delta, or containing cult-related violence in the South-West.
DAWN Commission acknowledged concerns that state police could potentially become personal militias for governors but stressed that these risks are manageable through robust constitutional safeguards, independent oversight bodies, and clear operational guidelines.
The commission recommended professionalizing recruitment and training processes, following established global standards for police forces. They also proposed institutionalizing collaboration between federal and state security agencies to prevent abuse and ensure operational synergy.
"With these measures, state police will not be instruments of oppression but guardians of peace and order," the commission assured.
Urgent Call to Action
DAWN Commission made an impassioned plea to the National Assembly and Federal Government to expedite legislative processes for establishing state police. They emphasized that every day of delay costs Nigerian lives, deepens public mistrust, and weakens the foundations of the country's democracy.
"The establishment of state police is not just a legislative necessity; it is a moral imperative," the commission stated. "It is the only credible path to restoring confidence in governance, protecting lives and property, and ensuring that Nigeria remains a cohesive and sovereign nation."
The commission concluded that a systematic approach to peace and security, anchored on state police, would demonstrate to both Nigerians and the international community that the government is resolute in confronting insecurity and committed to building a safer, stronger, and more united Nigeria.
