‎Afenifere Seeks Review Of State Police Bill

The Pan-Yoruba Socio-Political Organisation, Afenifere, has called for a review of the proposed State Police Bill before the National Assembly, saying some of its provisions could undermine the independence of state policing and retain excessive control in the hands of the federal government.

‎The position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the organisation’s caucus meeting held on Thursday at the Akure residence of its leader, Reuben Fasoranti. The meeting, chaired by Olu Falae, was attended by delegates from Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, Kogi, Osun and Ondo States.

‎While commending President Bola Tinubu for transmitting the State Police Bill to the National Assembly and applauding lawmakers for moving to consider it expeditiously, Afenifere argued that the legislation requires amendments to guarantee genuine decentralisation of policing.

‎According to the communiqué, “There are some areas in the Bill that need to be reviewed. Areas that tend to make the proposed State Police appendages of the federal government. In other words, there are clauses in the Bill that tend to strengthen the stronghold of the Federal Government on state police rather than liberalising it.”

‎The organisation maintained that the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly should instead place policing on the Concurrent Legislative List, insisting that such a framework would allow states to effectively establish and control their own police formations.

‎Beyond the state police debate, Afenifere expressed grave concern over the worsening insecurity across the country, particularly the abduction of pupils and teachers in three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. It lamented that more than 50 days after the incident, the victims were yet to be rescued.

‎”It is a big pity that the victims have not been rescued up till now. We feel highly disturbed that these innocent Nigerians are going through avoidable trauma. Actions must be expedited to get them out of the den of the bandits as quickly as possible,” the communiqué stated.

‎The group also urged governors of all Yoruba-speaking states, including Kogi and Kwara, to take more decisive actions to tackle insecurity, saying criminal activities had continued to threaten free movement and economic activities across the region.

‎Afenifere further condemned the reported attack on students of the Osun State University by suspected recruits of the Nigerian Army Depot, Osogbo, describing the incident as shocking and calling for a thorough investigation as well as reforms in the recruitment and training of security personnel.

‎On the political front, the organisation appealed to politicians and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully ahead of the 2027 general elections. It warned against violence, political thuggery and character assassination, saying democratic contests should not result in loss of lives.