Buba Galadima, a leader in the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has voiced strong opposition to the implementation of state-level police forces in Nigeria. During a recent interview on Arise TV, he asserted that this initiative is not intended to improve national security, questioning why state forces would succeed where the federal police and military have struggled.
Galadima claimed that the primary motive for both the President and state governors is to establish a force that can be weaponized against political rivals during upcoming elections. He warned that such an entity could be used to suppress opposition and derail democratic processes. To support his stance, he highlighted the history of the Native Authority Police in northern Nigeria, noting that the agency was frequently used to target and incarcerate political opponents. He further alleged that the aggressive practices of that historical force led to mass displacement in regions like Kano and Katsina.
Beyond political manipulation, Galadima cautioned that localized police forces could exacerbate existing ethnic and religious tensions, particularly if recruitment is restricted to specific interest groups within a state. While proponents of state police argue that the system would enhance community safety, critics remain concerned that it could lead to widespread human rights abuses and national instability.
