Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has warned that continued delays in the establishment of state police could push communities toward self-help measures as insecurity worsens across different parts of Nigeria.
The group expressed concern over the growing wave of kidnappings, terrorist attacks, and violent crimes, arguing that the current security architecture has struggled to effectively address the country’s security challenges. Afenifere maintained that the creation of state police has become increasingly necessary to strengthen grassroots security and improve local intelligence gathering.
According to the organisation, many communities are already resorting to informal security arrangements due to fears over the inability of existing security structures to provide adequate protection. It warned that if the issue is not urgently addressed, more citizens may feel compelled to seek alternative means of protecting themselves and their communities.
Afenifere also urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to accelerate constitutional and legislative processes required for the establishment of state police, describing it as a critical step toward addressing Nigeria’s security crisis.
The organisation noted that state policing would allow security operations to be tailored to local realities and improve response times in areas facing persistent threats from kidnappers, bandits, and other criminal groups.
The warning comes amid renewed public debate over security reforms following recent incidents of school abductions, attacks on rural communities, and growing concerns about insecurity in parts of the South-West, North-Central, and other regions of the country.
While supporters of state police argue that it would strengthen community security and complement federal security agencies, critics have expressed concerns about potential abuse by state governments. Nevertheless, calls for decentralised policing have continued to gain momentum as Nigerians seek more effective solutions to the country’s security challenges.
