Olukolade Advocates for State Police Amid Security Crisis

Retired Major General Chris Olukolade, the chairman of the Central Crisis Communication Hub, expressed strong support for the establishment of state police in Nigeria during a report presentation in Abuja on Tuesday. He warned against delays in this initiative and cautioned that governors might abuse the powers of state police.

Olukolade raised concerns about the deteriorating security landscape in Nigeria, marked by persistent terrorist attacks, mass kidnappings, and violent clashes. He noted that economic hardships and inflation are exacerbating public frustration and social vulnerability.

Furthermore, he highlighted the unprecedented spread of misinformation, particularly through multimedia content and artificial intelligence, which undermines public confidence in state institutions. Olukolade urged the federal government and security agencies to enhance specialized training and adopt intelligence-driven strategies to tackle kidnapping and other security emergencies.

He also warned against the rise of weaponized ethnic and religious identities among politicians, which could further inflame tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections.