Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has confirmed that the National Assembly is moving forward with a legislative proposal aimed at creating state police forces as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges.
In a statement released on Sunday, Bamidele disclosed that lawmakers are working on a legal framework to enable the establishment of state-controlled policing systems. He emphasized that strengthening security at the grassroots level is key to curbing rising insecurity across the country.
“The National Assembly is currently working on laws that will support the creation of state police as one of the long-term solutions to our security issues,” Bamidele stated.
He called for improved collaboration among the various security agencies to ensure that those responsible for violent attacks and their financiers are held accountable.
Bamidele also took aim at political figures who, according to him, use Nigeria’s security woes as a tool for political advantage.
He said, “Security agencies must work collectively to track down and bring to justice all those behind acts of terrorism. We also call on some political players, who often exploit the country’s challenges to sow division, to reflect on the example of Jesus Christ.”
The Senate Leader accused such individuals of going beyond genuine opposition, using national instability to pursue narrow political agendas.
The concept of state police has been debated in the past. A similar initiative was presented by former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, which proposed both federal and state policing structures, along with the establishment of relevant oversight bodies. That bill, submitted in 2018 to the Eighth Senate, failed to move forward.
As Christians mark Easter, Bamidele extended his best wishes and called for a renewed commitment to national unity and peace.
He encouraged Nigerians to look to the teachings of Jesus Christ for guidance, noting, “His life shows us how to live as partners, not rivals; collaborators, not enemies — in building a stronger and more inclusive nation.”
He also condemned the recent outbreaks of violence in Benue and Plateau states, describing them as a betrayal of the message of love and harmony preached by Christ.
Bamidele warned against divisive statements from political and regional figures, stressing that a country cannot thrive when its people are pitted against one another.
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