State Police Will Be Abused – Rep Gagdi

The member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, has restated his opposition to the creation of state police, while clarifying that he supports the idea of community-based security structures.

Speaking with constituents in Kanam following renewed bandit attacks, Gagdi rejected calls by Governor Caleb Mutfwang and others advocating for state police. He argued that such a system would be prone to abuse by governors, particularly during elections.

“My position, even on the floor of the House, is that governors will misuse state police to target political opponents instead of ensuring law and order. Nigeria is not yet ripe for multiple police formations. What we should do is strengthen and adequately fund the existing agencies — the police, military, DSS, and others — and hold them accountable,” he said.

Appearing on national television days later, Gagdi reinforced his stance, citing the conduct of local government elections as proof that governors cannot be trusted with greater security powers.

“Show me one state where opposition parties control even two percent of local legislative council seats, or where they won one or two chairmanships. Even in APC states, governors dominate everything. If they can manipulate state electoral commissions, how do you then trust them with armed police under their command?” he asked.

He warned that allowing governors to control armed operatives could endanger democracy. “If they already abuse civil authority in elections, what happens when you hand them AK-47s in the name of state police?”

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However, Gagdi drew a distinction between state policing and community policing. During a radio interview in Jos on Friday, he expressed support for recruiting local youths into vigilante groups, arguing that such structures are more effective because they are rooted in the communities they serve.

“These youths know the terrain and are accountable to their people, not to a governor sitting in the state capital. That is the kind of policing I believe will work,” he said.

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Gagdi, who has previously donated millions of naira to support vigilante groups — including a recent ₦30 million contribution in his constituency — insisted that grassroots security networks hold more promise for curbing violence than state-controlled police forces. Despite these efforts, insecurity remains a major concern in Plateau State, particularly within the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam axis which he represents.