Tinubu Calls for State Police Amid Rising Insecurity

On Wednesday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu urged the 10th Senate to initiate an urgent constitutional amendment to provide a legal framework for establishing state police in Nigeria. This appeal was made during an interfaith breakfast meeting at the Presidential Villa, where he emphasized the necessity of decentralizing policing to strengthen security at the grassroots level.

Tinubu highlighted that Nigeria is currently facing multiple security threats, including terrorism and banditry, which require flexible, locally driven responses. He noted that the creation of state police would enhance the ability of subnational governments to respond swiftly to threats within their jurisdictions, complementing the existing federal security structure.

The president's call aligns with previous discussions led by Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who announced plans to establish state police across Nigeria. The urgency of this reform is underscored by the rising insecurity, including kidnappings and rural attacks, which have become widespread, with reports indicating that at least N2.56 billion was paid in ransom between July 2024 and June 2025.