President Bola Tinubu has indicated that his administration is considering the creation of a state police to more effectively tackle security challenges across Nigeria.
He also directed the armed forces to deploy advanced military hardware and surveillance technology in Katsina State to curb the recent wave of attacks on innocent citizens by bandits.
Tinubu made the remarks while receiving a delegation of eminent Katsina citizens led by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda at the State House, noting that the federal government will evaluate the operations of a state police and further equip recently deployed forest guards.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, stated in Abuja that Tinubu condemned the politicisation of the proposed state police, emphasizing that addressing security emergencies in certain states requires specialized units familiar with local terrain and culture, capable of grassroots networking.
“The security challenges we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we have porous borders. We inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. It is a challenge that we must fix, and we are facing it. I have today directed all the security agencies to energise further and review their strategies. We have approved the additional acquisition of drones,” the President said, adding that he expects daily updates on security operations in Katsina.
“I am reviewing all aspects of security; I have to create a state police. We are looking at this holistically. We will defeat insecurity. We must protect our children, people, livelihoods, places of worship, and recreational spaces. They cannot intimidate us,” Tinubu added.
The President also assured the delegation that former President Muhammadu Buhari’s legacy would be immortalized for posterity.
“The loss of President Buhari is a loss for all of us. It is the will of God Almighty, but he left behind a legacy of success, not a defeated country or battered political structure. We must continue praying for him and for the strength to move Nigeria forward, not in sorrow but in success. There are no greater wishes than to see Katsina State and the Presidency intact,” he stated.
Governor Radda thanked President Tinubu for his consistent support of Katsina State, highlighting the appointment of indigenes to strategic positions and the provision of infrastructure.
“Mr. President, I want to say before our elders that I never made a request to you that was rejected. We appreciate your generosity toward Katsina. You are a true son of the state. I recall that Katsina was the first state you visited and spent a night in,” Radda said, noting that the state requires additional support in security, youth empowerment, and infrastructure.
Former Governor Aminu Bello Masari reaffirmed the loyalty of Katsina State to the President, while the Waziri of Katsina, Senator Ibrahim Ida, commended Tinubu’s efforts to ensure the timely completion of the Kano-Maradi Rail project and other state infrastructures.
Ida also emphasized the need to upgrade Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport and called for increased federal security presence, particularly in southern Katsina. He further thanked the President for honoring former President Buhari with a state burial.
