The Liaison Director for MDAs and Security Agencies in Plateau State, Hon. Ziphion Chrysanthus, has declared that Nigeria’s centralised security structure has failed to tackle the country’s deepening and localised security challenges.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Chrysanthus strongly advocated the creation of state police, insisting that arguments against it only serve the interests of the political elite rather than the safety of ordinary citizens.
His remarks followed opposition to state policing by Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
“The claim that state police could be abused is an argument that serves the comfort of the elite, not the interest of the people. Security cannot be micromanaged from Abuja. It must be localised, responsive, and community-driven,” Chrysanthus said.
He argued that state police would deliver faster response times, stronger local intelligence, and more effective deployment of officers familiar with the cultural and geographical contexts of their communities.
Addressing concerns of possible abuse by governors, he stressed that such risks can be mitigated through strong oversight mechanisms, just as federal institutions are subject to accountability checks.
Chrysanthus urged the National Assembly, the Presidency, and stakeholders to move swiftly to establish state police, describing it as both a smart reform and a moral duty.
“Security is not a privilege reserved for the elite, nor is it an ornament of political status to be paraded around election seasons. Security is a right — a non-negotiable, fundamental right of every Nigerian citizen,” he said.
