Nigerians who backed state police now oppose it after 2026 bill's passage - Hafiz Bakare calls out hypocrisy in security debate
The 2026 State Police Bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, yet some who championed state policing for years now call it a 'recipe for anarchy' since it became law. Hafiz Bakare argues this reveals hypocrisy—many prefer keeping insecurity as a political issue rather than accepting actionable solutions. The bill establishes state-level police forces confined to state borders, explicitly preventing mergers into informal regional armies like Amotekun or Ebube Agu, while cross-border crimes remain a federal mandate.
This comes as rural and urban communities face daily banditry and kidnapping threats. Critics demand waiting until after possible 2027 government change for localized protection, creating a paradox where people blame federal inaction while blocking deployed local police designed to fix that failure. Bakare notes the bill is a 'living document'—regional coordination could be added later if needed, but no rollback to regional police is expected due to Nigeria's complexity.
While not a complete solution, Bakare contends state police is 'definitely a step in the right direction' that can be amended based on implementation insights, complementing other insecurity measures. He stresses sincerity is key, rejecting negotiation with terrorists as inconsistent with past 'repentant terrorists' schemes.
What specific safeguards should be added to state police forces to effectively combat banditry and kidnapping without enabling regional fragmentation or federal overreach?