Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has revealed that the National Assembly is actively working on legislation aimed at establishing state-level police forces to help tackle Nigeria’s persistent security issues.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Bamidele noted, “The authority of the National Assembly is in the process of developing legal frameworks for the establishment of state police as one of the measures to address insecurity in the country.”
He stressed the need for synergy among security agencies in order to bring perpetrators of terrorism and their sponsors to justice.
Bamidele also criticized certain political figures for allegedly exploiting Nigeria’s security crisis for political gain.
“We urge security agencies to work together as a team to track and apprehend all the masterminds and sponsors of terror attacks nationwide.
“We appeal to some political actors who always lash out at the country’s challenges to push divisive narratives to learn from the example of Jesus Christ,” he stated.
According to him, these political actors are no longer performing opposition duties, but rather using Nigeria’s internal instability to pursue selfish political interests.
The idea of state police isn’t new. A similar bill introduced by former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu sought to establish a dual policing structure — both federal and state — alongside regulatory bodies like the National and State Police Service Commissions and Police Councils.
Despite its submission to the Eighth Senate in June 2018, the proposal didn’t progress.
Meanwhile, Bamidele extended Easter greetings to Christians, urging unity and a shared commitment to national peace.
He called on Nigerians to draw inspiration from the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
“In Nigeria today, Christ’s example clearly presents us a glimpse of how we should live together: as compatriots and not competitors, collaborators and not combatants, comrades and not contenders in the task of building a viable and virile federation that will serve the interest of all,” he said.
Bamidele also condemned the recent violent incidents in Benue and Plateau states, describing them as contrary to Christ’s message of peace and love.
He warned against inflammatory rhetoric by political or regional leaders, emphasizing that no nation prospers when one group turns against another.