Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, says the growing wave of banditry and kidnappings across the North has escalated beyond what state governors alone can handle, describing the situation as a national security concern requiring federal-level action.
The governor made the remarks on Monday during an interview on Prime Time, an Arise Television programme.
His comments come amid heightened insecurity marked by frequent abductions of residents, including women and schoolchildren, in several Northern states.
According to Yahaya, the idea that governors can negotiate or independently tackle banditry is misleading, as they lack the constitutional authority to command security agencies.
“This issue of negotiating with bandits has gone beyond Northern governors; it is a national issue,” he said. “Security is on the exclusive legislative list. Governors are doing all they can, but the responsibility ultimately lies with the Federal Government.”
He explained that while state leaders often attempt swift interventions, the bureaucratic structure of Nigeria’s security system limits their influence.
“Security agencies do not take directives from governors; they only take orders from their commanders,” he noted. “By the time decisions are communicated from above, it may already be too late.”
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Governor Yahaya emphasized that establishing state or local policing structures would significantly strengthen the fight against insecurity, allowing quicker responses and better protection for communities.
“With local police, we would see more effective and timely security operations,” he added.
The governor’s comments add to ongoing national debates about restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture, particularly the push for state policing as bandit attacks and kidnappings continue to unsettle communities across the North.