The Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has expressed his sadness over the killing of two police operatives in Aba, Abia State, on Friday.

The said incident again underlined the need for Nigeria to decentralise policing by establishing the state police.

The governor stated this on Monday in a condolence message he signed to commiserate with the people of Abia State and Governor Alex Otti.

He said those killing security officers who daily put their lives on the line for the safety of other Nigerians, were, no doubt, enemies of the nation and would surely pay for their criminal activities.

He enjoined the people of the state to join hands with Otti to tackle the menace of insecurity by promptly providing credible information in their communities on the activities of criminal elements.

Abiodun also called on the police and other sister security agencies to fish out the assailants to assure residents of the safety of their lives and property.

He further reiterated the call for state police as demanded by the Southern Governors’ Forum, adding that its introduction would help to resolve local crimes in various states of the federation.

“I sincerely commiserate with the government and the people of Abia State over the killing of security operatives in the state. Indeed, the issue of security is too important to be left in the hands of security agents alone.

“I urge the people to continue collaborating with security agencies by providing credible information that will help to nip criminal activities in the bud.

“Obviously, every crime has a local outlook. It is on that note that I call on the Federal Government, once again, to look into the issue of state policing as a way of strengthening our security architecture in the area of local intelligence gathering at the community level,” Abiodun said.