Don’t turn state police into political weapon- Senator Natasha

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has cautioned against the potential misuse of state police forces, warning that they should not be employed to intimidate political opponents or citizens. Speaking at a conference in Abuja on building consensus for state police and national security, the Kogi Central Senator emphasized the need for robust constitutional safeguards within any legislation establishing such forces.

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State police should never become an instrument of political oppression or executive intimidation. “We must build a policing system that serves the people, protects democracy and remains accountable to the rule of law.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan stressed that the design of a decentralized policing system must explicitly rule out abuse at the state level. "State police should never become an instrument of political oppression or executive intimidation," she stated, advocating for a system that serves the public, protects democracy, and upholds the rule of law.

A critical aspect highlighted by the senator is the necessity of a clear and sustainable funding plan. Without adequate financing, she argued, state police formations would lack the capacity to function effectively, impacting essential areas like personnel welfare, training, intelligence gathering, and equipment acquisition.

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Funding is one of the most important aspects the Federal Government must address. Without adequate and sustainable financing, state police will struggle to deliver on their constitutional responsibilities,”

In a separate note, the senator commended President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police for their prompt and decisive actions in addressing security threats, stating that such responsiveness builds public confidence. The conference, attended by various stakeholders, aimed to inform the broader debate on strengthening security while safeguarding rights and democratic norms.

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I commend Mr President and the IGP for their prompt and decisive actions on security issues. That kind of responsiveness builds public confidence,”