By Our Correspondent
National News – A United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, has urged Nigeria to decentralise its policing system by establishing state police to tackle worsening insecurity across the country.
Moore made the call on Wednesday through a post on the social media platform X, stressing that empowering state governments would allow quicker responses to violence, particularly in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region where attacks have intensified.
The congressman said the Nigerian government must take stronger action to protect citizens from persistent violence, especially attacks targeting Christian communities.
According to him, decentralising police authority would enable local governments to secure their territories more effectively and prevent further loss of lives and destruction of property.
Moore pointed to a recent attack on a church in Taraba State as an example of the growing security crisis.
He referenced the destruction of St. James the Great Catholic Church in Adu, allegedly carried out by Fulani militants.
Sharing images of the damaged church, the US lawmaker described the incident as part of continued persecution and terrorism against Christian communities in the region.
The comments come at a time when Nigeria faces increasing international attention over its security challenges, including terrorism, banditry and communal clashes.
Analysts say decentralising the country’s policing structure could allow state authorities to deploy faster and more targeted responses to local threats.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s police leadership has begun steps toward implementing state policing.
The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, recently inaugurated an eight-member committee tasked with developing a framework for the proposed state police structure.
The committee is expected to coordinate the rollout of the plan as part of reforms aimed at strengthening national security.
President Bola Tinubu has also urged lawmakers, particularly members of the Senate, to begin the process of amending the constitution to allow the creation of state police.
According to the president, decentralised policing will help authorities reclaim forests occupied by armed groups and strengthen Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
The proposed reform remains a major topic in Nigeria’s security debate, as experts and policymakers weigh its potential benefits and challenges in addressing the country’s complex security threats.
