South-West governors have renewed their demand for the establishment of state police, insisting it remains the most effective solution to the worsening security crisis in the region and across Nigeria.
Meeting behind closed doors on Monday at the Oyo State Governor’s Office in Ibadan, the leaders reviewed growing threats and adopted new regional strategies to bolster safety.
Led by Lagos State Governor and Forum Chairman, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also included Governors Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo). Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke was represented by his deputy, Kola Adewusi.
Reading the communiqué after hours of deliberation, Sanwo-Olu said the governors had agreed to set up a South-West Regional Security Fund, designed to reinforce joint operations against kidnapping, banditry, illegal mining, and unregulated migration. The fund will be managed by the DAWN Commission and supervised by security advisers from all six states.
They also endorsed a real-time digital intelligence-sharing platform to improve rapid response, incident reporting, and inter-state threat communication.
Raising concerns about rising illegal mining across the region, the Forum called for a stronger licensing system and tougher enforcement to curb the security and environmental risks associated with unlawful mining activities.
On migration control, the governors urged tighter monitoring of boundary routes and closer collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to properly identify migrants and prevent criminal infiltration.
They further appealed to the Federal Government to support the deployment of Forest Guards to secure forest belts often used as hideouts by criminal gangs.
Monday’s meeting came amid disturbing attacks nationwide. In Niger State, gunmen recently abducted more than 300 students from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri. Kebbi State also witnessed the kidnapping of 25 schoolgirls and the killing of a vice principal. Other incidents include the murder of worshippers in Kwara, the killing of five police officers in Bauchi, and the abduction of female farmers in Borno.
With insecurity intensifying, the governors reiterated that coordinated regional action—supported by the creation of state police—remains essential to safeguarding communities across the South-West.
