RismadarVoice Reporters, June 25, 2026
The Chairman of the Coalition of International Human Rights Organisations in Kano State, Comrade A.A. Haruna Ayagi, has warned that the proposed establishment of state police could worsen ethnic divisions, encourage political persecution and create jurisdictional conflicts among security agencies.
Ayagi made the remarks in response to the Senate’s passage of the State Police Bill, arguing that Nigeria has yet to overcome its existing security and ethnic challenges.
According to him, decentralising policing powers to the states at this stage could further complicate the country’s security landscape.
He expressed concern that state-controlled police formations may administer justice based on local customs, traditions and prevailing social attitudes, potentially fuelling ethnic bias and discrimination.
“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 cautioned that governors and other political office holders could misuse state police structures to intimidate opponents and suppress dissent, particularly during election periods.
“Politicians may use state police as a tool to intimidate and silence their political opponents, especially during elections, to consolidate their hold on power,” he stated.
The human rights advocate further warned that the creation of state police could trigger frequent disputes between federal and state security agencies over operational mandates and jurisdiction.
According to him, conflicting authority between both policing structures could undermine effective law enforcement and create confusion in criminal investigations and prosecutions.
“There could be persistent conflicts between federal and state police over jurisdiction. State police may make arrests which federal police could challenge as being outside their authority, and vice versa,” he explained.
Ayagi also expressed concerns that the introduction of state police may negatively impact community-based security outfits such as vigilante groups and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), whose members have played significant roles in supporting security operations in various communities.
He argued that members of such groups could feel sidelined if state police formations are prioritised over existing local security arrangements.
