State police evil, will oppress minorities, N’Central APC forum warns

The North-Central All Progressives Congress Forum has urged President Bola Tinubu and members of the National Assembly to reject ongoing calls for the creation of state police in Nigeria.

The Forum, which comprises APC stakeholders in the North-Central region, made the appeal in a statement issued by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, in Abuja on Friday.

According to the Forum’s Chairman, who also served on the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the 2023 election, he stressed that the State Police is evil and would encourage abuse of power and oppression of minority groups and opposition voices.

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The forum’s statement is a response to Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang’s recently renewed advocacy for state police during a special court session held in Jos to mark the commencement of the 2025/2026 legal year.

Mutfwang argued that the establishment of state police had become necessary to tackle insecurity in Plateau State and across the country. He called on the President and federal lawmakers to support its creation.

However, the North-Central APC Forum rejected his position, warning that state police would be a dangerous tool in the hands of governors.

“The North-Central APC Forum has noted with concern the calls for the creation of state police in Nigeria. Such a development will only lead to anarchy, impunity and the further subjugation of minority groups already facing oppression in several states,” the statement partly read.

The group accused many governors of already misusing federal police structures to intimidate opponents, harass critics and suppress dissent. It warned that giving them direct control over state police would worsen the situation.

The forum further alleged that state police could undermine Nigeria’s democracy, turning governors into dictators who would criminalise opposition and use security forces as instruments of persecution.

Beyond politics, the forum also cautioned that in secular and religiously diverse states such as those in the North-Central region, state police could be deployed to enforce religious dominance and marginalise minority groups.

“One of the biggest problems in Nigeria today is that some governors prioritise religious doctrines over the constitution. If such leaders are armed with their own police forces, the rights of minorities will be endangered,” the statement continued.

The Forum therefore appealed to Tinubu, senators, members of the House of Representatives, civil society groups and Nigerians at large to reject what it described as a “dangerous and counterproductive” proposal.

“State police is an evil wind that will not blow anyone any good,” the forum stressed.