The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has urged the National Assembly to amend the proposed state police legislation to guarantee the operational independence of state police formations from the federal government.
The call formed part of resolutions reached at the group’s caucus meeting held on Thursday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, where members also expressed concern over worsening insecurity across Yorubaland and renewed their demand for restructuring.
In a communique issued after the meeting, Afenifere welcomed the efforts of President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to establish state police but argued that certain provisions of the constitutional amendment bill undermine the autonomy of the proposed security structure.
The group specifically urged lawmakers to place state police on the Constitution’s concurrent legislative list, insisting that the current draft contains clauses that could leave state police under excessive federal control.
“However, there are some areas in the Bill that need to be reviewed—areas that tend to make the proposed State Police appendages of the federal government. In other words, there are clauses in the Bill that tend to strengthen the stronghold of the federal government on state police rather than liberalising it,” the communique stated.
The National Assembly recently passed the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
Before the legislation can be transmitted to President Tinubu for assent, it must secure the approval of at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele had described the proposal as a product of national consensus and a necessary response to the country’s security realities.
However, while several political groups have opposed the bill, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has called for its implementation to be suspended until after the 2027 general election.
Beyond the debate on state policing, Afenifere expressed deep concern over the abduction of pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, alongside other kidnapping incidents reported across Yorubaland and other parts of Nigeria.
The organisation sympathised with the affected families and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims without further delay.
“It is about 50 days now since the incident in Oriire Local Government Area occurred. It is a great pity that the victims have not been rescued yet. We feel highly disturbed that these innocent Nigerians are going through avoidable trauma. Actions must be expedited to get them out of the den of the bandits as quickly as possible,” the group said.
Afenifere also called on governors of the Yoruba-speaking states, including Kogi and Kwara, to take stronger and more coordinated measures to tackle insecurity threatening lives, livelihoods and free movement across the region.
While commending the military and other security agencies for their efforts, the organisation recommended increased investment in equipment, improved welfare for security personnel and a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to combating crime.
It further urged the government and security agencies to identify and prosecute internal collaborators aiding criminal activities, noting that some members of local communities were allegedly assisting bandits.
The group also called for the profiling of sponsors of illegal mining, citing allegations that communities are being forcibly displaced by armed groups before mining operations commence in the affected areas.
Reiterating its longstanding position on restructuring, Afenifere maintained that constitutional restructuring remains essential for Nigeria’s development and national stability.
While acknowledging steps taken by the Tinubu administration in that direction, it urged the government to accelerate the process.
The caucus also condemned the reported attack on student hostels at Osun State University, allegedly carried out by army recruits undergoing training at the Nigerian Army Depot in Osogbo.
According to the communique, the incident involved robbery, assault on students and the harassment of female students.
The organisation welcomed the arrest of at least five suspects and called for a thorough investigation to ensure everyone involved is brought to justice.
“It is highly disturbing that this happened, not from notorious bandits, but from young Nigerians being trained to protect citizens and defend the country,” the group said, adding that the incident underscored the need to review recruitment and training processes within Nigeria’s security agencies.
