The Northern Progressive Elders Group has cautioned President Bola Tinubu against creating state police forces, arguing such a move risks deepening insecurity and intensifying political abuse across Nigeria.
Senior member Yusuf Abubakar told reporters that while the country faces rising security threats, decentralizing the police force would give state governors unchecked power over law enforcement.
“If the federal police can be weaponised against the opposition, one can only imagine how much worse it would be if governors had their own police forces,” he said, citing recent instances in Kaduna and Kebbi where federal security agencies were allegedly misused.
The elders also warned that implementing state police ahead of the 2027 general elections could pave the way for political persecution and heighten distrust in the democratic process.
Rather than establishing new security structures, they urged Tinubu’s administration to reinforce existing institutions, improve accountability, and educate citizens on security matters.
This warning comes just hours after President Tinubu declared that state police had become unavoidable as part of his broader strategy to curb Nigeria’s persistent insecurity.
