By Seyi Odewale
The South-West Governors’ Forum on Monday issued its strongest call yet for the immediate establishment of State Police, warning that the Federal Government can no longer delay a constitutional overhaul that would allow states to confront fast-evolving security threats.
The communiqué was released after a closed-door meeting at the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Ibadan, attended by Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) and Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo).
The governors said the region’s vast forest belts have now become entrenched operational bases for kidnappers, bandits and criminal syndicates, posing a direct danger to lives, economic activities and interstate mobility.
They urged the Federal Government to urgently deploy Forest Guards across all South-West states, while each state provides personnel to support the operation.
Beyond forest security, the Forum announced the creation of a South West Security Fund (SWSF) under the DAWN Commission to finance coordinated operations and support a new real-time joint intelligence-sharing platform linking all six states.
The governors also expressed deep concern over unregulated interstate migration and escalating illegal mining activities, warning that both trends have become paramount security and environmental threats.
Commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for recent rescue interventions in Niger, Kwara and Kebbi States, the governors stressed that decentralised policing is now indispensable for national stability.
“The time for State Police is now—it can no longer be delayed,” the communiqué stated.
The Forum urged residents of the South-West to remain united and continue upholding the region’s longstanding reputation for peace and religious tolerance.
