Nigeria's Afenifere urges creation of state police amid rising insecurity

The pan‑Yoruba socio‑political group Afenifere, represented by Secretary‑General Chief Sola Ebiseni, warned that delays in establishing state police are creating a security vacuum that could trigger ethnic conflict and self‑defence militias. The group criticised the federal government’s reactive deployment of troops after terror attacks, describing it as ineffective for protecting farmers and rural communities. Ebiseni cited former Inspector‑General of Police Kayode Egbetokun’s support for a constitutional amendment and recent backing from Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, while rejecting proposals for a 60‑month transition period.

Former Afenifere National Secretary‑General Basorun Sehinde Arogbafa added that the organisation’s long‑standing alerts on kidnappings and violent attacks have been ignored. He called for modern security technology, such as drones, stronger local structures and community mobilisation to combat criminal networks, noting recent abductions of schoolchildren in Oyo State and illegal encampments in the South‑West.

Both leaders demand urgent, decentralised security reforms to protect Nigerians as federal forces remain overstretched.