President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated that the creation of state police is no longer optional but a necessary step in tackling the nation’s security crisis.
The president made this known on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a courtesy visit by a high-powered delegation of Katsina indigenes led by Governor Dikko Radda.
Tinubu, while addressing the worsening wave of banditry in Katsina, said the federal government is determined to confront insecurity “head-on,” adding that security agencies have been directed to re-evaluate their strategies in the state.
“I have instructed all the security agencies to re-energise their operations and adopt fresh strategies,” the president said. “We have also approved the deployment of drones and other advanced surveillance equipment. I will be receiving daily security reports from Katsina going forward.”
The president revealed plans to further equip newly recruited forest guards in the state as part of efforts to secure vulnerable communities.
He acknowledged that the country’s porous borders and inherited security lapses remain a challenge but stressed that they are not insurmountable.
“The security challenges we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we inherited weaknesses, but they must be fixed. We are determined to win this fight,” Tinubu stated.
On state policing, the president affirmed that consultations were ongoing, but insisted that the establishment of state police was “inevitable.”
“I am reviewing all aspects of our security architecture. We have to create state police, and we are looking at it holistically,” he declared. “We will not allow criminals to intimidate us. Our people, our children, our places of worship, and our livelihoods must be protected.”
Tinubu recalled that in February 2024, a federal committee was inaugurated to draft the framework for state policing, noting that the initiative has received widespread support, although 20 states have yet to submit their reports.
The president also paid tribute to former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing his legacy as one that must be preserved.
“We lost our brother, President Buhari, but he left in a good way. He did not hand over a broken system but a legacy of success,” he said.
Governor Radda, in his remarks, praised the president for his unwavering support to Katsina.
“There has never been a time I approached the president with a request and he turned it down,” Radda said, acknowledging Tinubu’s commitment to the state.
Other dignitaries at the meeting, including former Governor Aminu Masari and the Wazirin of Katsina, Ibrahim Ida, lauded the president’s respect for Buhari’s legacy and his investment in infrastructure. Ida, however, appealed to the federal government to prioritise the upgrading of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport and scale up security in southern Katsina.
