…Govs. back Tinubu’s plan, Elders warn of political abuse
Nigeria’s debate over the creation of state police has split northern leaders, with governors backing the move while some elder statesmen reject it, warning it could worsen insecurity and political persecution.
The Northern States Governors’ Forum, (NSGF), reaffirmed its unanimous support for state-controlled policing, describing it as a necessary reform to tackle banditry, insurgency, and communal violence overwhelming federal security forces.
According to the spokesperson for the NSGF chairman, Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Isma’ila Uba Misilli: “The Forum is fully in support of the creation of State Police. They adopted it and asked the National Assembly to expedite action”.
The governors’ backing aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s plan to decentralise policing as part of broader security reforms. The proposal, first tabled in February 2024, has stalled in the National Economic Council but has gained new urgency amid rising killings and kidnappings across the North.
However, the Northern Progressive Elders Group has urged the Federal Government to resist the calls, warning that state police would be prone to abuse by partisan governors.
“If the federal police can be used to intimidate or suppress opposition, imagine what state-controlled forces could do in the hands of partisan governors”, said Yusuf Abubakar, who spoke on behalf of the group. He added that Nigeria’s security failures stem not from lack of agencies but from politicisation and weak rule of law.
The group cautioned that introducing state police ahead of the 2027 general elections could deepen political persecution and destabilise democracy.
Other northern voices have also expressed caution. The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) said Constitutional safeguards and sustainable funding must be ensured, while former Kaduna senator Shehu Sani quipped that Nigerians may “regret the move” once State Police become reality.
Critics warn that poorly funded state forces could be ineffective or weaponised, while supporters insist decentralisation will allow quicker, locally tailored responses to crises.
With northern governors and the presidency aligned, the final decision rests with the 10th National Assembly, which must amend the Constitution before State Police can become law.
