House Committee Chair Opposes State Police, Favors Community Policing

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Defence, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, has opposed calls for the creation of state police, warning that governors cannot be entrusted with weapons such as AK-47 rifles.

Speaking on Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today, on Tuesday, Gagdi, who represents Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State, said devolving policing powers to governors would worsen insecurity rather than improve it.

“I am not an advocate of state policing. This is because governors cannot be trusted with power to control AK-47 rifles,” he said.

Gagdi stressed that a properly funded community policing system remained a more effective and safer alternative for tackling crime and insecurity across the country.

He reiterated that community policing had the potential to address local security challenges more efficiently, adding that empowering communities rather than state executives would yield better results.