Islamic Leader Warns Tinubu: State Police Could Be Used Against Opponents

Islamic Leader Warns Tinubu: State Police Could Be Used Against Opponents

A senior Islamic cleric in Plateau State has cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against pursuing the creation of a state police system, warning that the move could exacerbate political tensions and worsen insecurity in Nigeria’s already fragile states.

The warning came shortly after President Tinubu directed the National Assembly to begin constitutional amendments that would allow individual states to establish their own police forces to help tackle rising violence, banditry, and other security challenges across the country.

Addressing a large crowd at a public religious programme in Jos on Sunday, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, leader of the **Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’Ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), said the creation of state‑controlled security outfits could be abused by politicians and turned into a tool against perceived enemies, especially in politically sensitive environments like Plateau State.

Sheikh Jingir argued that in states with a history of ethnic and political clashes, state police could be misused to revive old disputes under the cover of law enforcement, deepening distrust and undermining existing peace efforts. He warned that local actors are already exploiting the ongoing debate around state policing to stir fear, unrest, and division in communities.

READ ALSO:

• Daddy Freeze Warns Couples Over 40: ‘Avoid Moving Abroad, Especially US, UK’
• Austin Bar Shooting Kills 3, FBI Investigates Possible Terrorism Link
• Presidency Denies Alleged Poison Plot Against President Tinubu, Calls Viral Report Fake

The cleric went further to say that state police might be used to target individuals labelled as “settlers” or outsiders, potentially forcing them out of their homes and communities, which could destroy fragile peace and widen longstanding social divides.

Speaking directly to President Tinubu, Sheikh Jingir emphasised that not all political leaders could be trusted with armed security forces, citing concerns that some may use state police to persecute those not aligned with their political ideology. “Wallahi, if you grant them the permission to establish police, they will start killing those who are not inclined towards their political ideology,” he warned.

He urged political leaders to prioritise dialogue, reconciliation, and unity over creating new security bodies that may be misused for political gain. “Peace must come before political ambition,” he said, urging a focus on strengthening existing national security agencies rather than establishing parallel forces that could be weaponised.

Sheikh Jingir also questioned members of the audience on whether such a policy should be accepted, to which the crowd responded loudly: “Not at all.”

The cleric’s comments reflect wider concerns among some religious and community leaders, civil society groups, and analysts who fear that without robust legal frameworks, oversight mechanisms, and accountability structures, state police could function as partisan or ethnic militia forces rather than professional law enforcement agencies.

Critics of the state police proposal have echoed similar sentiments, saying that current national security agencies — including the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, and other security formations — should be reformed and strengthened to respond more effectively to insecurity instead of creating new security institutions that could further complicate Nigeria’s security architecture.

Supporters of the state police concept argue that decentralised security forces could allow states to respond more promptly and effectively to local security threats, reduce dependence on federal resources, and improve community trust. They say proper constitutional safeguards, clear command structures, and community‑based oversight can mitigate risks of misuse.

As debates continue in political and civic circles, Nigeria faces the challenge of balancing the need for improved security solutions with concerns about political misuse, accountability, and the protection of citizens’ rights.

Islamic Leader Warns Tinubu: State Police Could Be Used Against Opponents