Kwankwaso Breaks Silence On State Police, Blames Federal Security System

Former Kano State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso has restated his opposition to the creation of state police, saying the renewed demand for the system is largely linked to concerns over the effectiveness of the existing federal policing structure.

Kwankwaso, a former Minister of Defence, made the remarks while speaking on the “Untold Stories” podcast, where he discussed Nigeria’s worsening security situation and the growing calls for alternative approaches to protecting citizens.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Kwankwaso said he had consistently opposed state police, arguing that the renewed push for the idea emerged from what he described as the inability of the federal or national police to adequately address insecurity across the country.

He, however, acknowledged that the worsening security situation had prompted governments at different levels to search for additional measures to protect lives and property.

“I have always been against state police, and I can tell you the issue of state police came because of the failure of the federal or national police,” Kwankwaso said.

The former governor described the development as one of the major mistakes being made by the government, while arguing that the inability of existing security structures to adequately tackle insecurity had created pressure for alternative arrangements.

Kwankwaso also expressed concern over what he described as the growing availability of firearms among civilians, saying the situation could create further security challenges.

He argued that when people begin acquiring weapons to protect themselves because they feel inadequately protected, disputes that would ordinarily be resolved peacefully could potentially escalate into violent confrontations.

According to him, the situation had deteriorated to a point where some leaders were advising citizens to acquire arms for self-protection, which he said could have serious consequences for public safety.

Kwankwaso further warned that widespread possession of firearms could make it more difficult to maintain peace, particularly during disagreements between individuals, neighbours or family members.

His comments come amid renewed national discussions over the proposed establishment of state police as part of broader efforts to address insecurity and improve policing across Nigeria.

While supporters of state police have argued that policing closer to local communities could improve responsiveness to security threats, Kwankwaso maintained that he remains opposed to the arrangement and instead pointed to the need to address the underlying challenges affecting the existing policing system.