Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation has advised the National Assembly to make the proposed state police independent of federal control.
Though, it commended the apex lawmaking body for accelerating the State Police Bill passage transmitted to them by President Bola Tinubu, it however urged the National Assembly Bill to revisit the bill to effect some corrections.
It noted that “However, there are some areas in the Bill that need to be reviewed—areas that tend to make the proposed State Police appendages of the federal government. In other words, there are clauses in the Bill that tend to strengthen the stronghold of the federal government on state police rather than liberalising it.”
It suggested that policing should be placed on the Concurrent Legislative List, insisting that the proposed State Police should not operate as an extension of the Federal Government.
According to the group, genuine state policing would only be achieved if states were granted constitutional powers to establish and manage their own police outfits without federal control.
It canvassed this position at its caucus meeting on Thursday at the Akure home of its leader, Papa Reuben Fasoranti.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, which was signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi.
Delegates from Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Kwara and Kogi states, who attended the meeting, commended President Bola Tinubu for transmitting the State Police Bill to the National Assembly.
Afenifere expressed concern that some provisions of the proposed legislation could undermine the independence of state police, thought it praised the National Assembly for moving to give the bill expeditious consideration.
According to the group, certain clauses in the bill appear to make the proposed state police appendages of the Federal Government instead of autonomous security institutions capable of addressing local security challenges.
The communique said, “Afenifere maintained that what the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly need to do is to place policing on the Concurrent Legislative List.”
The organisation argued that decentralising policing would strengthen security architecture across the country and enable states to respond more effectively to rising cases of kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes.
It also renewed its call on governors of Yoruba-speaking states, including Kogi and Kwara, to adopt more decisive measures to tackle insecurity threatening lives, livelihoods and free movement across the region.
While reaffirming its longstanding advocacy for restructuring, Afenifere noted that the establishment of an effective state police system remains a critical component of true federalism and national development.
The organisation expressed optimism that further constitutional reforms by the Tinubu administration would help reposition Nigeria on the path of sustainable peace, security and progress.
On the political climate ahead of the 2027 general elections, Afenifere appealed to politicians to conduct their campaigns peacefully and shun violence, thuggery and character assassination.
In a constitutional amendment bill, both chambers of the National Assembly recently passed a bill to establish state police to tackle Nigeria’s escalating security challenges.
However, to become operational as a law, the bill requires the approval of two-thirds of the 36 states Houses of Assembly before its transmitted to the president for assent.
Afenifere expressed concerns about the abduction of pupils and teachers
in three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, and other kidnap incidents occurring in different parts of Yorubaland and Nigeria
Sympathising with the families of the victims, it urged the authorities to work harder to ensure the abductees are freed as soon as possible.
It lamented: “It’s about 50 days now since the incident in Oriire Local Government Area occurred. It is a great pity that the victims have not been rescued yet. We feel highly disturbed that these innocent Nigerians are going through avoidable trauma. Actions must be expedited to get them out of the den of the bandits as quickly as possible.”
It also commended the efforts of the military and other security agencies regarding security issues in the region. It, however, recommended that security agencies be further strengthened through additional equipment, morale-boosting measures, and enhanced kinetic and non-kinetic security measures.
Afenifere urged the government and security agencies, including the military, to look inward, as insecurity continues to fester due to internal collaborators. It added that such a searchlight should also be beamed on local communities, as there are collaborators among them.
“By the same token, sponsors of illegal mining should also be profiled, as there are allegations that people are being forced out of their lands only for mining to take place in the area almost immediately after bandits displaced the people,” the group noted.
Afenifere reiterated its position on restructuring, stating that it believes restructuring will greatly assist in and hasten the realisation of the noble objective of development. The body acknowledged the efforts of the Tinubu administration towards restructuring but urged him to do more.
On the attacks on some hostels at the Osun State University, the group said, “The meeting received the news of the attacks. We are shocked to learn that army recruits from the Nigerian Army Depot, Osogbo, Osun State, allegedly carried out the attacks. As reported, the attacks resulted in the robbing of students, manhandling some of them, and inappropriately harassing some female students.”
The communique added, “It is gratifying to note that at least five of the recruits have been arrested as suspects. Afenifere is calling on the authorities to dig to the root of this incident with a view to ensuring that such a thing does not happen anywhere anymore.
“The body is highly disturbed to note that this happened, not from the notorious bandits that we have always heard about, but from the hands of young Nigerians being trained to go and protect the citizens and defend their country.
“It is, therefore, very important to bring the heavy hand of the law upon them, as they are likely to constitute a great danger to society. This incident also calls for proper rejigging of how candidates for positions in our security agencies are recruited and trained.”
