Nigeria, May 11 -- In response to the ongoing violence, terrorism, and banditry that have taken many lives and displaced thousands, state governors and traditional rulers in northern Nigeria are urging the federal government to establish state police.

At a joint meeting held in Kaduna, the governors of the 19 northern states and the heads of the Traditional Rulers Council called on the National Assembly to quickly pass the legal framework needed to create state police forces.

The leaders said the region's security problems have become too severe to ignore and require immediate action. They believe that setting up state police is now necessary to effectively deal with the crisis.

In a statement released after the meeting on Saturday nig...