I have to create state police… we’ll defeat insecurity, says Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu says the creation of a decentralised police force has become inevitable. 

Tinubu spoke on Tuesday when he received a delegation of prominent citizens from Katsina led by Dikko Radda, the state’s governor, at the presidential villa in Abuja.

The president also directed security agencies to review their operations in Katsina following a surge in banditry in the state.

He said the federal government would deploy advanced military hardware and surveillance gadgets in the state.

The president said the federal government is considering the upgrade of forest guards recently deployed in Katsina.

Tinubu declared that the security challenges confronting the country are not insurmountable.

“The security challenges that we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we have porous borders. We inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. It is a challenge that we must fix, and we are facing it,” he said.

“I have today directed all the security agencies to energise further and look at the strategies. We have approved the additional acquisition of drones.”

The president also asked for daily feedback on security operations in the state.

“I am reviewing all the aspects of security; I have to create state police. We are looking at that holistically,” he added.

“We will defeat insecurity. We must protect our children, our people, our livelihood, our places of worship, and our recreational spaces. They can’t intimidate us.”

On February 15, 2024, the federal government set up a committee to explore the creation of state police.

Mohammed Idris, minister of information, had said the president and governors have agreed on modalities for the concept.

The minister added that series of meetings would take place to determine the workability of a decentralised police force.

In March of 2024, Vice-President Kashim Shettima said 20 states are yet to send in reports on state police creation, adding that all states expressed their support for the concept.

‘BUHARI LEFT LEGACY OF SUCCESS’

Tinubu assured the delegation that the legacy of former President Muhammadu Buhari would be preserved.

“The time we lost our brother, President Buhari, is a loss for all of us. It is the will of God Almighty, but he has left in a good way,” he said.

“He didn’t hand over a defeated country, a battered political structure, but a legacy of success, and that is the most important thing.

“We just have to continue praying that Almighty Allah should grant him Aljannah Firdausi and give the rest of us the ability to stand very strong and push Nigeria forward. Not to look back in sorrow but move forward in success.”

In his remarks, the governor thanked the president for his support to the state.

“Mr President, I would like to thank you very much, and I want to say before our elders that there was never a time I came to the President with a request that he rejected,” Dikko Radda said.

“We thank you, Mr President, for sharing with Katsina. You are a true son of Katsina state. I recall that Katsina is the first state you visited and spent a night. We thank you for the privilege.”

The governor said the state needs more security, youth empowerment, and infrastructure support.

Aminu Masari, former governor of Katsina, commended Tinubu for honouring Buhari with a “true state funeral” and assured him of the loyalty of the state.

Ibrahim Ida, the wazirin of Katsina, commended the president for prioritising infrastructure projects in the state, including the Kano-Maradi rail line.

Ida, however, called for the upgrade of the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport and urged the federal government to give more security attention to southern Katsina.