The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has voiced firm backing for the creation of state police, noting that a decentralised security structure is urgently required to tackle Nigeria’s escalating insecurity.
He made this known during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, monitored by our correspondent.
Adams said he “totally agrees” with the stance of the Southern Governors’ Forum, which recently reiterated its demand for state police as part of broader policing reforms.
He also praised South-West governors for championing the initiative.
“Anybody who loves this country will not disagree with state police, considering the situation we have,” he said.
Responding to fears that governors might exploit state police for political purposes, Adams argued that such concerns should not outweigh the need to safeguard lives and property.
“Let us first talk about the protection of life and property, which is the primary responsibility of any government. Partisan politics is secondary,” he said.
He pointed out that one of the key flaws in the existing security arrangement is the assignment of officers who lack familiarity with the communities they serve. According to him, efficient policing depends on security personnel drawn from local areas who understand the terrain, history, and residents.
“If people in the community are not allowed to police and secure their area, bringing someone unfamiliar with the environment will make the job very difficult,” he said.
Using Arigidi-Akoko in Ondo State—his hometown—as an illustration, Adams noted that locals have deep knowledge of the area’s history, forest pathways, and long-standing families, all of which help in identifying criminals and responding quickly to incidents.
“We know our forests. We know where intruders enter. We know individuals with criminal backgrounds. Community members can provide intelligence that outsiders cannot,” he said.
He stressed that Nigeria, operating under a three-tier system of government, cannot depend solely on a centralised police force.
According to him, effective security requires each level of government—federal, state, and local—to develop its own policing system.
“There is no way you can run a country with three tiers of governance but only one structure of policing. Without allowing the three tiers to have their own policing structures, you cannot achieve effective security,” he said.
Calls for state police have grown stronger in recent months as insecurity worsens nationwide.
The Southern Governors’ Forum, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, and other security stakeholders have repeatedly urged the Federal Government to decentralise policing.
Many governors, particularly in the South-West, say the centralised Nigeria Police Force is overstretched and unable to respond promptly to local threats.
Regional security outfits like Amotekun in the South-West and various vigilante groups in the North have emerged as temporary solutions, intensifying discussions around constitutional reforms that would allow states to run their own police services.
Despite worries about potential political misuse, supporters argue that decentralised policing is vital for better intelligence gathering, quicker response, and stronger community participation.
Adams’ remarks further increase pressure on the Federal Government to adopt state policing as part of wider reforms aimed at improving national security.
President Bola Tinubu previously urged the National Assembly to amend current laws so states can set up their own police forces, a move he considers necessary to address rising insecurity.
This was stated on November 26 in a release by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, announcing a nationwide security emergency.
“I call on the National Assembly to begin reviewing our laws to allow states that require state police to establish them,” he said.
The President also stated that his “administration will support state governments that have set up security outfits to safeguard their people from terrorists bent on disrupting our national peace.”
