Kano Senator Warns Against State Police

The senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District, Sani Hanga, has kicked against the proposed creation of state police, warning that it could deepen Nigeria’s security and political challenges rather than solve them.

At a media chat in Kano yesterday, the senator described state police as a ‘dangerous idea’ capable of turning the country into a police state where governors could deploy armed forces to intimidate opponents and suppress dissent.

According to him, concentration of police powers at the state level would fuel political rivalry and instability, citing recent emirate and political tensions in Kano as an example of how competing interests could spark violence if rival authorities controlled armed formations.

“If we had state police in Kano during recent political disputes, there would have been civil unrest. Different sides would have used the police against each other,” Hanga said, adding that a centralised command structure had helped to prevent chaos in such situations.

The lawmaker also raised concerns over funding, noting that many states already struggle to pay salaries and allowances of existing workers. He warned that creating, training and arming state police without guaranteed funding would amount to ‘creating a monster.’

“When salaries are not paid, armed men will take care of themselves. That is dangerous for the people,” he said.

Senator Hanga further disclosed that, as a member of the Senate’s constitutional amendment steering committee, he was confident that the proposal would face stiff resistance in the National Assembly, despite endorsement by some state governors.

“Governors may support it out of panic, but they do not amend the constitution.

Many of us will not vote for state police,” he said.

On broader security issues, the senator criticised the federal government’s directive withdrawing police aides from VIPs, describing it as ill-advised and capable of exposing lawmakers to danger, especially amid rising public resentment against politicians.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to democratic governance, condemning any form of unconstitutional change of government in Africa and urging leaders to allow institutions, including legislatures and ministries, to function independently.

Hanga maintained that strengthening existing security agencies, improving funding and accountability, and upholding democratic norms remained a better path to addressing Nigeria’s insecurity than creating state police.