A group of northern Nigerian leaders has urged the Federal Government to reconsider plans for state police, saying it could make political tensions worse across the country.
According to Gistreel, the Northern Progressive Elders Group shared their concerns with reporters on Thursday, just hours after President Bola Tinubu said state police would eventually be created to fight rising insecurity.
Senior member Yusuf Abubakar said while Nigeria faces serious security problems, giving states their own police forces could open the door to political misuse.
“People already take sides on community attacks based on politics,” Abubakar explained.
“Governors could easily use state police against their political opponents instead of focusing on real security.”
The group pointed to recent incidents in Kaduna and Kebbi states, where they claim federal police were already used for political purposes.
They worry state-controlled police would face even more pressure to serve political interests.
The elders are particularly concerned about introducing state police before the 2027 elections. They fear governors might use these forces to intimidate opponents or interfere with the democratic process.
“If federal police can be turned into political tools, imagine how much worse it could be when governors control their own forces,” they warned.
Rather than creating new police structures, the group wants the government to:
– Strengthen existing security institutions
– Ensure police accountability
– Apply security measures fairly across all communities
– Focus on justice and rule of law
The elders argue that fixing current problems with law enforcement would be more effective than adding new layers that could be manipulated by local politicians.
