The Nigerian Senate has pledged to accelerate legislative work on the creation of state police as the country continues to face rising cases of terrorism, banditry, and kidnappings in several regions.
The upper chamber says it is preparing to begin the constitutional amendment process needed to establish police forces controlled by individual states, a move lawmakers believe could strengthen internal security and improve response to violent crimes.
According to the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, discussions around the reform are already gaining momentum, with lawmakers expressing readiness to push the proposal forward without delay. The Senate says the aim is to support broader efforts to improve national security and complement existing federal policing structures.
The renewed push comes amid growing public concern over recent attacks and abductions, including incidents involving schoolchildren in parts of Oyo State that sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for security reforms.
Supporters of state police argue that decentralising policing would improve intelligence gathering at the community level and allow quicker intervention during security emergencies. They also believe it would ease pressure on federal security agencies that are currently stretched across multiple conflict zones.
