At the Okebadan Festival in Ibadan, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, voiced strong support for the establishment of state police in Nigeria, branding those against the idea as enemies of the nation.
Adams emphasised that the current state of insecurity across the country necessitates the urgent implementation of state policing to protect the lives and property of Nigerians.
Adams criticised the allocation of significant security funds to governors through security votes while insecurity continues to plague the nation. He urged President Bola Tinubu to use his influence to push for constitutional amendments allowing for the creation of state police, emphasising that it is the president’s duty to encourage the National Assembly in this regard.
Echoing Adams’ sentiments, Dr. Rauf Abiola, the Oyo state coordinator of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), endorsed the concept of state police, particularly in Oyo state. Abiola emphasised the importance of involving OPCs in intelligence gathering at the grassroots level to ensure the effectiveness of state policing.
The call for the establishment of state police comes amidst escalating security challenges across Nigeria, with advocates emphasising the need for localised security solutions to address the diverse threats facing different regions of the country.