Tinubu Reaffirms Plan to Establish State Police Against Banditry

President Bola Tinubu has reiterated that creating state police is unavoidable in efforts to strengthen security across Nigeria.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during a courtesy visit by a delegation of Katsina indigenes led by Governor Dikko Radda, Tinubu assured that his administration remains committed to confronting insecurity head-on.

The president directed security agencies to review their operations in Katsina State, which has recently seen increased banditry, and disclosed that advanced military hardware, surveillance technology, and newly trained forest guards would be deployed to boost security in the state.

Acknowledging Nigeria’s security challenges, Tinubu maintained that they are surmountable with the right strategy and determination.

“The security challenges we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we have porous borders, and we inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. But it is a challenge we must fix, and we are facing it,” he said.

Tinubu also ordered security agencies to intensify their efforts and provide him with daily reports on operations in Katsina. He revealed that the government had approved the additional acquisition of drones.

On the issue of state policing, the president said:

“I am reviewing all aspects of security. I have to create state police. We are looking at that holistically. We will defeat insecurity and protect our children, our people, our livelihoods, our places of worship, and our recreational spaces. They can’t intimidate us.”

He recalled that in February 2024, the federal government set up a committee to develop a framework for state policing. The initiative has since gained broad support, although as of March, 20 states were yet to submit their reports, according to Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The president also paid tribute to former President Muhammadu Buhari, pledging to preserve his legacy.

“The passing of our brother, President Buhari, is a loss for all of us. But he left on a strong note. He didn’t hand over a defeated country or a battered political structure, but a legacy of success,” Tinubu said.

Governor Radda expressed gratitude to Tinubu for his consistent support, noting:

“Mr President, there was never a time I came to you with a request that you rejected.”

Other speakers, including former Governor Aminu Masari and Ibrahim Ida, the Wazirin of Katsina, praised Tinubu for honouring Buhari and investing in infrastructure in the state. Ida urged the federal government to prioritise the upgrade of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport and strengthen security in southern Katsina.