President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that the establishment of state police is now inevitable as part of a national strategy to combat rising insecurity across Nigeria.
His remarks come amid fresh calls by Northern elders for the declaration of a state of emergency in the region, which continues to reel from devastating violence, terrorism, and socio-economic breakdown.
Speaking during a courtesy visit from prominent Katsina State indigenes led by Governor Dikko Radda at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, President Tinubu said the federal government is determined to strengthen the country’s internal security infrastructure through decisive reforms including the decentralization of policing.
“I am reviewing all aspects of security; I have to create state police. We are looking at that holistically,” Tinubu said.
“We will defeat insecurity. We must protect our children, our people, our livelihoods, our places of worship, and our recreational spaces. They can’t intimidate us.”
The President reiterated this stance again on Wednesday during a meeting with governors from the North-East, emphasizing that discussions with National Assembly leadership on the legislative framework for state police are ongoing.
He also directed security agencies to reassess their strategies in Katsina State, which has seen a spike in banditry and armed violence. Tinubu disclosed that the government is deploying advanced surveillance technologies, military hardware, and enhancing the capacity of newly recruited forest guards.
“The security challenges that we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we have porous borders. We inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. It is a challenge that we must fix, and we are facing it,” he said.
“I have directed all the security agencies to energize further and look at the strategies. We have approved additional acquisition of drones,” the President added.
Widespread Endorsement from Regional Groups
The President’s firm stance on state police was well received by socio-political groups that have long advocated for decentralised policing.
Afenifere:
Oba Olu Falae, chairman of Afenifere’s National Executive Committee and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said:
“State police is something we should have had 50 years ago. Policing is a local matter. Until you have local policing, we won’t have effective policing in our country.”
Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF):
Spokesman Prof. Tukur Baba said the ACF supports the initiative and is eager to see how it is implemented.
Middle Belt Forum (MBF):
Dr. Bitrus Pogu, National President of MBF, described Tinubu’s announcement as a critical first step.
“In a true federal system, security is structured to cover all strata of our existence. Having state police is the best move for our country,” he stated.
He dismissed fears that governors may misuse state police, arguing that such logic could also apply to the federal government misusing federal police.
“We can’t stop a necessary reform because a few individuals might abuse it,” he said.
Opposition: “State Police Will Become Political Thugs”
However, not all voices are in agreement. Retired General Ijioma Nwokoro Ijioma warned that state police could be misused by governors for political vendettas.
“That state police will become thugs for the state governors. Take my word for it,” he said.
“There’s nothing wrong with the federal police. The problem is political interference and poor leadership.”
Northern Elders: Declare Emergency or Risk Anarchy
In a strongly-worded communique, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) called on President Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the North, warning that insecurity in the region has reached a critical stage.
Spokesman Prof. Abubakar Jiddere highlighted the execution of 38 abductees in Zamfara despite ransom payments, the mosque massacre in Unguwan Mantau village (Kaduna), and recent killings in Kauru and Kudan Local Government Areas as examples of growing lawlessness.
“Declare a state of emergency in northern Nigeria. Deploy adequately trained, armed, and equipped security forces with clear rules of engagement,” the NEF said.
The group further urged the government to strengthen border control, collaborate with ECOWAS and the AU, and provide adequate humanitarian support to displaced persons.
“The current security architecture is inadequate, overstretched, and in some cases, complicit through inaction,” the statement read.
Tiv Leader: “Nothing Has Changed in Yelewata”
President Tinubu’s visit to Yelewata, Benue State, in June after a herdsmen attack that killed over 200 people, has yielded no tangible results, according to Victor Aleva, President of Mzough U Tiv UK (MUTUK).
Appearing on Channels TV, Aleva said the community remains in ruins and accused the government of political theater.
“I was in Yelewata last Saturday, and I can tell you nothing has changed. It’s all politics. No rebuilding, no relief. The people are still suffering,” he said.
Aleva also dismissed police claims that 26 suspects had been arrested, saying:
“That’s a lie. They staged those arrests because the president visited. Where are the suspects now?”
He insisted the massacre was not a farmer-herder clash, but a deliberate act of ethnic cleansing.
Boko Haram “Blind to Faith,” Says Ndume
Senator Ali Ndume (APC – Borno South) cautioned against religious profiling following reports that Christians were targeted in recent Boko Haram attacks in Borno. He said both Christians and Muslims are victims.
“Terrorists don’t care whether you’re Christian or Muslim. We must avoid religious profiling. It only serves the terrorists’ interests,” Ndume stated.
In the attacks on Ngoshe and Mussa communities in Borno, five farmers were killed — including both Muslim and Christian victims. Homes were also burned.
Ndume praised the military’s efforts and called on the federal government to increase support to security forces.
Defence Minister: Terrorism Tied to Poor Governance
Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, speaking at a regional conference in Abuja, stressed the need to link security with good governance.
He called for the operationalization of the ECOWAS Standby Force, regional intelligence sharing, and harmonization of anti-terror laws across West Africa.
“Terrorism thrives in ungoverned spaces. We must combine military force with community resilience, economic development, and good governance,” Badaru said.
He added that terrorism in the Sahel has evolved through encrypted platforms and online radicalization, urging joint regional action to counter these threats.
