Tinubu Promises Safeguards Against Abuse as State Police Plan Advances

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the proposed establishment of state police will include strong safeguards to prevent abuse by state governors and ensure accountability.

The President gave the assurance on Thursday while receiving members of the Oyo State Council of Obas, led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at the State House in Abuja.

Tinubu said the proposed state police system would operate under clear checks and balances, adding that traditional rulers would play a key role in promoting transparency and preventing misuse.

"There will be state police. That state police will have guardrails from abuses. We'll protect it from abuses, and you traditional rulers too will have roles to play," the President said.

He also disclosed that the Federal Government is strengthening Nigeria's security architecture by expanding the responsibilities and operational capacity of forest guards.

According to him, the forest guards will no longer focus solely on protecting wildlife but will be equipped to pursue criminals hiding in forests across the country.

"We are equally enhancing the capacity and capability of the forest guards; they are not just to chase antelopes and animals. We are going to have them chase the criminals and deal with them in various forests," he added.

Tinubu further revealed that the Federal Government has recently established four additional divisions of the Nigerian Army, increasing the total number from eight to 12 divisions, to improve the military's ability to respond rapidly to security threats nationwide.

The President commended the armed forces for the successful rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, noting that the operation was successful because the government refused to negotiate with the kidnappers.

He disclosed that the kidnappers demanded the release of detained members of their criminal gang, in addition to ransom payments, but the government rejected their conditions.

"We refused to negotiate. These criminals wanted us to release members of their gang who had already been arrested. I said, 'No deal.' We are not going to negotiate with criminals," Tinubu stated.

He added that the security challenges facing neighbouring countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic have contributed to the growing insecurity in Nigeria, as some criminal elements involved in attacks are non-Nigerians.

The President urged citizens to remain vigilant and support security agencies by reporting suspicious individuals and activities, describing intelligence gathering as a critical tool in combating crime.

On the economy, Tinubu said Nigeria's fiscal position has improved, resulting in increased allocations to state governments. He advised governors to prioritise road construction and rehabilitation projects that improve connectivity and provide security agencies with easier access to rural communities instead of investing in unnecessary flyover projects.

Earlier, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, thanked the President for the successful rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire and praised the administration's efforts in infrastructure development.

The monarch also called for the implementation of true federalism and advocated constitutional roles for traditional rulers, saying both reforms would contribute to faster national development.

He reaffirmed the support of traditional rulers for the Tinubu administration and expressed confidence in the President's Renewed Hope Agenda.

Meanwhile, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele had earlier disclosed that one of the proposed safeguards for state police would be an independent federal funding mechanism designed to reduce the risk of political interference and abuse.