Jos, Plateau State – March 2, 2026 – A prominent Islamic cleric in Plateau State has strongly cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against proceeding with the proposed creation of state police forces, warning that such a move could be exploited by politicians to exacerbate political tensions, revive ethnic conflicts, and worsen insecurity in already fragile regions like Plateau.
Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, the leader of Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’Ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) in Plateau State, issued the warning during a public religious programme in Jos on Sunday. His remarks came just days after President Tinubu formally requested the National Assembly to amend relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to enable states to establish and control their own police commands as part of broader efforts to address rising insecurity across the country.
Speaking to a large congregation, Sheikh Jingir argued that state-controlled security outfits would almost inevitably be abused by politicians in power. He described Plateau State as a particularly politically sensitive and ethnically diverse environment where such forces could easily be turned into instruments of oppression against perceived political opponents or rival ethnic and religious groups.
“Some local actors are already using the debate around state police to stir fear and unrest,” the cleric stated. “Once state police structures are in place, old ethnic and political disputes could be revived under the cover of law enforcement.”
Sheikh Jingir specifically raised fears that state police could be weaponized to target individuals and communities labeled as “settlers,” potentially forcing them out of certain areas and destroying fragile peace efforts that have taken years to build. He warned that this would widen existing divisions among Plateau’s diverse population—comprising indigenous groups, Hausa-Fulani settlers, Christians, Muslims, and others—and reverse progress made through community dialogues and reconciliation initiatives.
The JIBWIS leader directly addressed President Tinubu, urging him to reconsider the policy. “You know how they cheated us. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, some of these politicians are not as good as you, they are not as good as someone like Kashim Shettima,” he said. “Wallahi, if you grant them the permission to establish police, they will start killing those who are not inclined towards their political ideology.”
Sheikh Jingir questioned the crowd rhetorically: “They say they should establish police in every state. If anyone says he will accept this, are we going to accept it?” The audience responded loudly and unanimously: “Not at all.”
He insisted that peace and reconciliation must take precedence over political ambition or structural reforms that carry high risks of misuse. “Some issues, they will pretend as if everything has gone down, but they will just raise them when the security outfit is established,” he warned. The cleric called on political leaders to focus instead on strengthening existing national security agencies, improving intelligence coordination, promoting genuine dialogue between communities, and addressing root causes of insecurity such as poverty, unemployment, farmer-herder conflicts, and youth restiveness.
The warning reflects deep-seated anxieties in Plateau State, which has experienced recurring cycles of violence often linked to indigene-settler disputes, land rights, political exclusion, and competition over resources. Many residents and community leaders in the state have long expressed skepticism about decentralizing policing powers, fearing that governors and local politicians could deploy state police to settle old scores or consolidate power along ethnic and religious lines.
President Tinubu’s push for state police forms part of his administration’s broader security strategy under the Renewed Hope Agenda. In a letter to the National Assembly, the President argued that the current centralized Nigeria Police Force lacks the capacity to effectively police the country’s vast territory and diverse population. He proposed constitutional amendments to devolve policing powers to states while maintaining federal oversight to prevent abuse.
The proposal has generated mixed reactions nationwide. Supporters—including some governors and security experts—contend that state police would enable faster response times, better community intelligence, and more culturally sensitive law enforcement. Critics, particularly in multi-ethnic and politically volatile states like Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, and Nasarawa, warn of potential abuse, ethnic bias, and the creation of parallel armed groups loyal to individual governors rather than the state.
Sheikh Jingir’s statement is among the most prominent religious voices to publicly oppose the idea in Plateau State. As a respected leader of JIBWIS—one of the largest Islamic reformist movements in northern Nigeria—he commands considerable influence among Muslim communities in the state. His intervention adds to a growing chorus of caution from civil society, traditional rulers, interfaith groups, and some political actors who argue that security reforms must be carefully calibrated to avoid deepening existing fault lines.
The Plateau State Government has not yet issued an official response to the cleric’s remarks, but Governor Caleb Mutfwang has previously expressed support for stronger local security arrangements while stressing the need for federal coordination and safeguards against abuse.
The National Assembly is expected to begin public hearings on the constitutional amendment bills in the coming weeks. Any changes to policing powers will require a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly and approval by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly.
As the debate intensifies, Sheikh Jingir’s warning underscores the delicate balance between decentralizing security powers to improve effectiveness and preventing their misuse in a country with deep ethnic, religious, and political divisions. Stakeholders across Plateau and similar states continue to call for inclusive consultations and robust safeguards before any final decision is taken.
