Northern Elders Reject State Police, Warn of Political Abuse

The Northern Progressive Elders Group has rejected growing calls for the establishment of state police, warning that such a move could deepen political persecution and worsen insecurity across Nigeria.

A senior member of the group, Yusuf Abubakar, said during an interview that while insecurity is a serious concern nationwide, establishing state-controlled police forces would not solve the problem. He explained that attacks on communities are often judged along political lines and accused both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of using security issues for political gain.

The group expressed concern that state governors might misuse such police forces to target political opponents. They cited recent examples of alleged abuse of federal police powers in states like Kaduna and Kebbi, and warned that state-controlled forces could become even more vulnerable to political manipulation.

They urged President Bola Tinubu to halt the push for state police and instead focus on reforming existing institutions, ensuring justice, and promoting fair application of security policies. They also criticised the delay in reaching a decision, noting that although discussions between the federal government and state governors began in February 2024, full deliberation at the National Economic Council has been postponed three times.