Renewed Push for State Police as Security Worsens Across Nigeria

Seventeen months after President Bola Tinubu first signaled interest in decentralising Nigeria’s policing structure, pressure is mounting from socio-political groups, civil society organisations and retired security personnel for swift action on state police.

The calls gained momentum after the President’s meeting on Tuesday with prominent Katsina citizens, where he pledged to accelerate the devolution of power to sub-national governments and strengthen newly deployed forest guards. “I am reviewing all aspects of security; I have to create a state police” Tinubu told the delegation led by Governor Dikko Radda.

The assurance has reignited debate across the country. The pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere welcomed the development, urging Tinubu to clear bureaucratic delays before the end of 2025. Its spokesperson, Jare Ajayi, stressed that the idea has long been on the national agenda and must now move beyond rhetoric. The Middle Belt Forum echoed similar sentiments, with its president, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, insisting state police aligns with true federalism and is “long overdue.”

Regional groups have also weighed in. The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) described state police as inevitable, arguing that vigilante networks already working with traditional rulers and local leaders prove de facto structures exist, albeit without legal backing. PANDEF and others are pushing for urgent constitutional amendments to formalise the system. The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), however, cautioned that insecurity stems more from economic hardship than policing structures, warning that state police could be politicised ahead of 2027.

Youth advocacy groups such as the Jigawa Next Forum expressed frustration at delays by the National Economic Council, which has deferred full deliberations on the matter three times despite all 36 states submitting reports. Similarly, former Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Ojukwu criticised what he called federal “indecision” and a lack of sincerity, arguing that the current centralised structure benefits those in power.

Defending the administration, Information Minister Mohammed Idris maintained that the initiative remains a priority within the government’s broader security reforms but requires legislative groundwork to avoid political and bureaucratic pitfalls. Meanwhile, the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria dismissed the plan as a “misplaced priority” warning it could entrench political abuse and calling instead for a five-million-strong federal police force.

The renewed agitation comes amid rising insecurity nationwide. Recent attacks include the killing of at least 50 worshippers in a Katsina mosque on August 19, the rescue of 76 hostages in the northwest, and a cholera outbreak in Zamfara that was worsened by bandit violence. Data from the National Human Rights Commission show at least 2,266 Nigerians killed in the first half of 2025, more than double the toll for the same period last year.

As the crisis deepens, consensus is building that reform cannot wait much longer. Whether through state police or a strengthened federal force, many Nigerians say decisive action is urgently needed to match escalating security threats.