Ex-Kano gov Shekarau backs state police
Former Kano State Governor, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, declared his full support for the establishment of State Police on Sunday, stressing that it is crucial to address the escalating insecurity in various states and regions.
Shekarau expressed his endorsement while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme. His support follows a recent position by the country’s 36 governors, who, three days earlier, largely agreed on the need for state-controlled policing.
The Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, shared this development with State House correspondents after the 147th meeting of the National Economic Council at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on Thursday.
In his response, the former Minister of Education reiterated that security should be seen as a collective responsibility, and emphasised that a proper framework should be established to address it.
“I have always supported the idea of creating a security outfit at the state level, down to the local government level. Whether you call them Community Watch, community police, or state police, the important thing is that we need to monitor our environments,” Shekarau stated.
He highlighted that governments at all levels have a constitutional duty to protect citizens’ lives and property. “Many people, including lawyers and those concerned with constitutional matters, have reminded various governments that their primary responsibility is ensuring the safety of their citizens and their property,” he added.
Shekarau argued that while security is a shared concern, the current structure needs to be revisited and reformed. He pointed out that the existing security forces are underfunded and inadequately equipped, particularly regarding internal security operations. “The number of personnel, the facilities, the training, and the welfare are currently insufficient,” he said.
He concluded by voicing his concern about the legal framework needed to govern state-level security forces, which he believes must be carefully designed to ensure effective and fair operations.
