North-Central APC Forum Rejects Creation Of State Police

By; AMOS TAUNA, Kaduna

The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and members of the National Assembly to reject in totality, the ongoing calls for the creation of state police in Nigeria.

The forum, with its membership from APC stakeholders in the North-Central region, in a statement issued by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, on Friday, who also served on the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the 2023 election, explained that the state police is evil and will encourage abuse of power and oppression of minority groups and opposition voices.

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang’s recently renewed calls for state police during a special court session held in Jos to mark the commencement of the 2025/2026 legal year.

A according to Mutfwang, the establishment of state police had become necessary to tackle insecurity in Plateau State and other parts of the country and called on the President and federal lawmakers to support its creation.

Responding, the North-Central APC Forum rejected his position, saying that state police will be a dangerous tool in the hands of governors.

The North-Central APC Forum has noted that such development would only lead to anarchy, impunity and the further subjugation of minority groups already facing oppression in several states.

The group noted, “Many governors are already misusing federal police structures to intimidate opponents, harass critics and suppress dissent. Giving them direct control over state police will worsen the situation.”

The forum also alleged that the creation of state police could undermine Nigeria’s democracy, turning governors into dictators and as well criminalise opposition, and use security forces as instruments of persecution.

The forum believed that in secular and religiously diverse states such as those in the North-Central region and other parts of the country, state police could be deployed to enforce religious dominance and marginalise minority groups.

It also believed that one of the biggest problems in Nigeria today is that some governors prioritise religious doctrines over the constitution, stressing that if such leaders are armed with their own police forces, the rights of minorities will be endangered.

The forum the appealed to Tinubu, senators, members of the House of Representatives, civil society groups and Nigerians at large to reject what it described as a “dangerous and counterproductive” proposal.

The forum believed that state police is an evil wind that will not blow anyone any good.