This Must Never Happen’ — Natasha Speaks Out On State Police And Political Oppression

The senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has cautioned that any future state police system must not be allowed to become a tool for political oppression or executive intimidation.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

She gave the warning on Thursday while speaking at a conference on “Building a National Consensus for State Police and National Security,” organised by ARISE News and THISDAY Newspaper in Abuja.

The event brought together government officials, security chiefs, lawmakers, civil society groups, academics and private sector stakeholders to deliberate on constitutional amendments, funding models, operational structures and accountability mechanisms for the proposed establishment of state police.

Addressing participants, Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the National Assembly to ensure that any legislation creating state police contains strong constitutional safeguards to prevent abuse of power.

She noted that although support for decentralised policing continues to grow, adequate legal protections must be put in place to ensure the system is not exploited for political purposes.

The senator also highlighted the need for sustainable funding, warning that state police would be unable to perform effectively without sufficient financial resources.

“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,” she said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan added that adequate funding would be critical to the success of the proposed policing structure, stressing that the Federal Government must ensure a reliable and sustainable financing framework.

She also commended President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police for what she described as their prompt response to security challenges across the country.

“I commend Mr President and the Inspector-General of Police for their prompt and decisive actions on security issues. That kind of responsiveness builds public confidence,” the senator stated.