Former Kano Governor Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau has raised concerns about the potential exacerbation of political hooliganism with the proposed implementation of state police.
Speaking on a Kano-based Arewa Radio, Shekarau highlighted the prevalent political violence in many states, attributing most of these atrocities to politicians.
His remarks come amidst the unanimous agreement among the Presidency, 36 Governors, and other stakeholders on the creation of state police to address ongoing security challenges.
While expressing support for the concept of state police, Shekarau cautioned against arming them.
Instead, he proposed a decentralized police model akin to the Kano State Hisbah Board, which he utilized to address social vices during his gubernatorial tenure.
Shekarau stressed the importance of avoiding firearms in the hands of the proposed state police to prevent exacerbating political violence.
Newsng had earlier reported that Dr Umar Ardo, a former special adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Social Democratic Party governorship candidate in Adamawa State in 2023, cautioned against the implementation of state police in Nigeria under the current governance conditions.
In a statement titled, ‘The Dangers of Establishing State Police in Nigeria Under Current Governance Conditions,’ Dr. Ardo outlined his concerns regarding the potential consequences of granting state governors unchecked coercive powers.
He emphasized the importance of adopting a more nuanced and evidence-based approach to security reform, addressing structural impediments, enhancing existing law enforcement capabilities, and adopting comprehensive security strategies.
