As insecurity bites harder across the region, northern leaders rally behind state policing, but fears of abuse and political manipulation threaten to divide opinion
The long-running conversation on the devolution of policing in Nigeria has taken a dramatic turn as northern leaders and stakeholders intensify calls for the creation of state police. What was once a subject of hesitation at the federal level has now gained unprecedented momentum, but not without stirring sharp divisions within the region.
At the heart of the debate is the recent declaration by the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), which unanimously threw its weight behind the establishment of state-controlled police forces. The governors argue that the move has become a necessity in the face of escalating insecurity, particularly banditry and terrorism, that has ravaged the North for over a decade.
Speaking through Isma’ila Uba Misilli, the Director-General of Press Affairs to the NSGF Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, the forum reaffirmed that the 19 northern governors had adopted a common stance after meeting with traditional rulers in Kaduna. They further urged the National Assembly to accelerate legislative work on the matter.
This position aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent endorsement of state policing. During a meeting with a delegation from Katsina State, the President declared that a decentralized policing system is now “inevitable,” citing the efforts of community vigilante groups and civilian Joint Task Forces (JTF) in complementing security operations in the North-East.
The President noted that any framework must guarantee “local ownership” of the police while safeguarding “political neutrality” to prevent misuse by state authorities. His position signals a sharp departure from the federal government’s years of reluctance on the matter.
The chorus of support has also grown louder among socio-cultural organizations. The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), and even the pan-Yoruba group Afenifere have backed the move, though with varying degrees of caution.
The NEF recently declared that the scale of insecurity in the North warranted nothing short of a state of emergency, describing the situation as “extraordinary.” The MBF, through its president, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, reminded Nigerians that the country once operated a dual policing system with the Native Authority Yan Doka working side by side with the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), which proved effective until the military centralised security during its rule.
Afenifere, on its part, has challenged President Tinubu to deploy his “statecraft dexterity” to ensure state police becomes a reality before the end of 2025, describing it as a step toward true federalism.
Yet, despite the overwhelming chorus of approval, deep-seated fears persist. Critics such as former Kaduna senator Shehu Sani and former ACF Secretary-General Anthony Sani warn that state police could be weaponised by governors against political opponents, activists, and critics. Concerns about funding, training, and professionalism remain central to these reservations.
Even groups like the ACF, while in support of state police in principle, have cautioned that all constitutional safeguards must be strictly observed to prevent abuse and political manipulation.
At the policy level, the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, continues to deliberate on the proposal. A majority of states are reportedly in favour of state police, and the NEC has directed governors to submit formal positions before a final decision is made after wider stakeholder engagement.
Several northern governors, including Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State and Dikko Radda of Katsina State, have openly lamented the weaknesses of the current centralized police structure. They argue that direct control over security agencies would drastically improve their ability to combat banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes wreaking havoc in their states.
With insecurity showing no signs of abating, the push for state police has emerged as one of the most pressing political and security debates in Nigeria today. For the North, it is both a hopeful promise and a deeply divisive gamble. Whether state police will emerge as the silver bullet for insecurity or as another layer of political tension remains to be seen.
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