US Congressman Calls For State Police In Nigeria Amid Security Crisis

A United States congressman, Riley Moore, has renewed calls for the decentralisation of Nigeria’s policing system, insisting that state governments should be given greater authority to tackle the country’s worsening insecurity, particularly in the Middle Belt.

Moore made the remarks in a post on X on Wednesday, urging Nigerian authorities to take more decisive action to safeguard lives and property.

The lawmaker pushed for structural changes to Nigeria’s policing architecture, noting that the time has come to devolve police powers to sub-national levels.

He said, “Christians in Nigeria continue to face brutal violence and death at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists. The government in Abuja must step up and protect their citizens in the Middle Belt. It’s past time to decentralize police authority so state governments can protect their citizens and stop this horrific persecution.

“Another Christian church in Nigeria destroyed by Fulani militants. These are photos of St James the Great Catholic Church in Adu, Taraba. Just constant terrorism against these Christians.”

Moore’s comments come amid increasing global scrutiny of Nigeria’s security situation, with growing advocacy for reforms that would enable states to play a more active role in maintaining law and order.

The renewed push also coincides with fresh efforts by the Federal Government to advance the establishment of state police as part of broader strategies to address the country’s complex security challenges.

Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, recently inaugurated an eight-member committee tasked with driving the implementation of state policing—an indication of a significant move by the administration of Bola Tinubu toward decentralising the nation’s security framework.

The committee is expected to design a workable structure for the proposed state police system and oversee its rollout in line with the IGP’s broader policing agenda following his confirmation as the 23rd indigenous Inspector-General of Police.

Similarly, President Tinubu has urged the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, to commence the process of amending the constitution to accommodate state police, describing the move as crucial to reclaiming forest areas from armed groups and strengthening the fight against terrorism.