The Northern Progressive Elders Group has cautioned the Federal Government against establishing state police, warning that such a move could worsen political tensions and insecurity across Nigeria.
Speaking with reporters on Thursday, senior member Yusuf Abubakar acknowledged the country’s rising security challenges but argued that decentralising the police force would open the door to political manipulation.
“Today, people celebrate or condemn attacks on communities based on political affiliations,” Abubakar said. “Instead of creating state police that governors could easily use against their rivals, what this country needs is justice, rule of law, and fair application of security measures for everyone.”
The elders cited recent cases in states like Kaduna and Kebbi, where the federal police were allegedly misused to settle political scores, stressing that state-controlled forces could be even more vulnerable to abuse.
“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,” they warned.
They also cautioned that introducing state police ahead of the 2027 general elections could heighten political persecution and deepen mistrust in the system.
Instead, the group urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to strengthen existing institutions, ensure accountability, and improve public enlightenment on security issues rather than creating “new structures that could weaken democracy.”