ILESA/ABUJA, Jan. 24, 2026 — The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere has renewed its call for the establishment of state police, arguing that decentralised policing would help prevent terrorists and bandits from “simply relocating” across state lines after being dislodged by military operations.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting in Ilesa, Osun State, the group faulted the National Assembly for what it described as slow action on constitutional changes required to create state police, despite repeated federal-level commitments to review the policing framework. The communiqué was signed by Afenifere leader Oba Oladipo Olaitan and publicity secretary Justice Faloye.
“Afenifere insists on restructuring the Nigerian federation for the optimal benefits of true federalism… State police is most imperative,” the group said, adding that without state-controlled policing structures, “national security pillars lack concrete support and operational integrity.”
Afenifere argued that locally rooted command structures—down to local government and community commands—would improve intelligence gathering and response times, and make it harder for armed groups to exploit jurisdictional gaps between states.
The statement also condemned proposals for negotiations or amnesty for terrorists, describing such approaches as dangerous to state authority. Afenifere said it was “disturbing” that armed actors could appear with high-calibre weapons during talks involving public officials, warning that such optics weaken deterrence and public confidence in the state’s monopoly on force.
The renewed advocacy comes amid continued national debate on the legal and political pathway to state policing. In September 2025, BusinessDay reported that the National Assembly had begun steps toward amending the 1999 Constitution to allow the creation of state police—an overhaul that would require broad legislative and state-level support.
On Rivers State, Afenifere urged political actors and stakeholders to address the state’s lingering political crisis “with firmness” before it escalates into wider democratic instability. It commended the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) for intervening and called on all parties to cooperate with the Forum’s mediation efforts.
