Shagari is right, state police is the only answer now

Former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State and ex-Minister of Water Resources, Shagari, just said what we are all thinking — state police reform cannot wait any longer. He spoke in Sokoto today and said banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism have overwhelmed federal security agencies completely.

He made a point that really got me: “The bigger question is whether we should continue allowing Nigerians to be kidnapped, killed and terrorised while we focus on fears about what might happen in the future.” That is the truth. We are all scared of governors misusing state police, but people are dying every single day. Which is worse?

Shagari even said safeguards can be built into the law, but establishment should not be delayed. The man is not joking. He knows states already spend money supporting federal security agencies anyway. So what are we waiting for? Let’s argue this — who here actually thinks state police will make things worse?