State Police Will Deepen Ethnic Divisions, Encourage Political Persecution, Jurisdictional Conflicts — Ayagi

The Chairman of the Coalition of International Human Rights Organisations in Kano State, Comrade A.A. Haruna Ayagi, has expressed strong reservations over the proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria, warning that the initiative could worsen ethnic divisions, encourage political persecution, and create operational conflicts among security agencies.

Ayagi made the remarks on Wednesday while reacting to the Senate’s passage of the State Police Bill, a development that has reignited national discussions on decentralising policing powers to state governments.

According to him, Nigeria is still struggling with deep-rooted ethnic and security challenges, making the timing of the proposed reform unsuitable.

He argued that allowing individual states to control their own police forces could result in law enforcement being influenced by local customs, traditions, and ethnic considerations rather than national standards of justice and fairness.

“There is a likelihood of heightened ethnic sentiments because the country is still grappling with issues of ethnic divisions. If every state controls its own police, officers may administer justice based on local customs, traditions and prevailing social attitudes in their respective states,” he said.

Ayagi also expressed concern that state police could be exploited by politicians to intimidate opponents and suppress dissent, particularly during election periods.

According to him, governors and other political office holders may use state-controlled security structures to strengthen their grip on power and weaken opposition voices.

“Politicians may use state police as a tool to intimidate and silence their political opponents, especially during elections, in order to consolidate their hold on power,” he stated.

The human rights advocate further warned that the creation of state police could generate frequent jurisdictional disputes between federal and state security agencies.

He explained that disagreements over arrests, investigations, and operational authority could undermine effective law enforcement and create confusion within the security system.

Ayagi also noted that the proposal may negatively affect existing community-based security outfits such as vigilante groups and the Civilian Joint Task Force, whose members have contributed significantly to local security efforts.

He urged lawmakers and stakeholders to carefully consider the potential consequences before implementing the policy, stressing the need for broader consultation and stronger safeguards to prevent abuse.