A Nigerian lawmaker has voiced strong opposition to the creation of state police, warning that governors could misuse such forces against political opponents. Yusuf Gagdi, who represents the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State in the House of Representatives, reiterated his stance while meeting constituents and later on television. He argued that Nigeria is not ready for a proliferation of security agencies and that existing ones should instead be strengthened and adequately funded, with greater accountability.
Gagdi highlighted a pattern in which state governors have historically manipulated state‑independent electoral commissions to suppress opposition, raising concerns about their potential control over state police. He questioned whether governors could manage state police impartially, given their track record in conducting elections. Even in states governed by his own party, opposition candidates rarely win local government council chairmanships, whereas he noted that the national electoral commission, INEC, is more transparent than its state‑level counterparts.
In a recent radio program, Gagdi added nuance to his position by expressing support for community policing. He advocated recruiting local youths into vigilante groups equipped to protect their own neighborhoods, arguing that such groups would be more effective than state police because they would answer only to their communities, not to a governor. This view aligns with his past actions; he has donated millions of naira to vigilante groups in Plateau State.
Despite these efforts, insecurity continues to plague the region, especially in the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam zone he represents. Gagdi’s position on state police underscores the complexities of addressing security concerns in Nigeria, where governance, politics, and security are deeply intertwined.
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