The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has thrown his weight behind the move to establish state police, insisting that Nigeria’s deepening insecurity crisis would be drastically reduced within six months if the Federal Government gives constitutional backing to the proposal.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television on Monday, December 8, 2025, Adams said the exponential rise in banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism has overwhelmed the current centralised policing structure, which he described as overstretched and under-resourced.
According to him, the long-standing regional and ethnic disagreements that once stalled the idea of decentralised policing have now faded, as leaders across all six geopolitical zones — including the North — have finally reached a consensus.
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“Across the six geopolitical zones, there is now a shared agreement on the need for state police. Our Northern brothers — governors, traditional rulers, opinion leaders — also support it,” he said.
Adams explained that the only barriers left are legislative and executive approvals.
“If the National Assembly passes the bill and the president signs it into law, insecurity in this country can be drastically reduced within six months,” he declared.
While acknowledging the efforts of the South-West security outfit, Amotekun, Adams noted that the corps lacks the sophisticated weapons, training, and federal legal backing necessary to effectively confront terrorists and well-organised criminal gangs.
“Amotekun has done well, but they are limited. We’re dealing with criminals who carry advanced weapons — RPGs, AK-49, General Purpose Machine Guns. State police will have the authority and structure to confront them,” he said.
Adams also referenced the recent meeting of Southern governors, where they unanimously endorsed the creation of state policing systems as a “non-negotiable pillar” for true federalism and grassroots security.
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“I fully align with the position of the Southern governors. State police is not optional; it is essential for our survival as a nation,” he added.
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Responding to concerns that governors may weaponise state police for political persecution, Adams admitted that such fears are legitimate but urged Nigerians to focus on the greater threat — the daily loss of lives.
“While those fears are understandable, the protection of lives must be our highest priority,” he said.
Adams called for urgent, decisive action from the National Assembly and the Presidency, insisting that no patriotic Nigerian should reject the initiative at a time when the country is facing its worst security crisis since independence
