By Sesi Noah President Bola Tinubu has made it clear that setting up state police is no longer optional if Nigeria truly wants to get a han...
By Sesi Noah
President Bola Tinubu has made it clear that setting up state police is no longer optional if Nigeria truly wants to get a handle on its growing security problems.
Speaking on Tuesday, September 2, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during a courtesy visit by top figures from Katsina State—led by Governor Dikko Radda—Tinubu said the federal government is ready to take the fight to bandits and other criminals causing unrest.
He ordered security agencies to take a fresh look at their operations in Katsina, where there’s been a rise in bandit attacks. According to him, new military-grade equipment, including drones and surveillance tools, will be deployed. He also mentioned that newly recruited forest guards in the state will get more training and support to boost their capacity.
“Our security issues are not beyond control,” Tinubu said. “Yes, our borders are too open, and we inherited some problems that should’ve been dealt with earlier. But we’re confronting them now, head-on.”
He continued: “I’ve instructed all security agencies to step up and rework their strategies. We’ve approved more drones, and I’m looking into all aspects of our security. Creating state police is part of the plan—we’re looking at the bigger picture. We will defeat this insecurity. We must protect our children, our people, our places of worship, and even our recreational areas. We won’t be intimidated.”
The president reminded the group that back in February 2024, the federal government set up a committee to work out the structure for state policing. Since then, the idea has gained traction, though as of March, Vice President Kashim Shettima said 20 states still hadn’t submitted their reports.
Tinubu also took a moment to honour former President Muhammadu Buhari, assuring the Katsina delegation that Buhari’s legacy would be respected and carried forward.
“Losing our brother, President Buhari, was a big blow to all of us. It’s God’s will, but he left on a good note,” Tinubu said. “He didn’t leave behind a country in ruins or a broken political system—he left behind a strong legacy, and that’s what matters.”
Governor Radda thanked the president for always responding to his calls for help, while other speakers like former Governor Aminu Masari and the Wazirin of Katsina, Ibrahim Ida, praised Tinubu for showing respect to Buhari and for investing in infrastructure. Ida also asked the federal government to upgrade the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport and boost security in southern Katstina.
Photo credit: Linda Ikeji's blog
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