The member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Yusuf Gagdi, has opposed Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s call for the establishment of state police in Plateau State.
Speaking during a visit to attacked and displaced communities in Kanam Local Government Area on Sunday, Gagdi argued that Nigeria is not prepared for state policing, warning that such a system would be vulnerable to abuse by governors against perceived political opponents.
Despite rising insecurity and repeated attacks in communities such as Garga, Kukawa, Kyaram, Gyambau, Dungur, and Shuwaka, the lawmaker maintained that creating another security outfit is not the solution. Instead, he advocated for increased funding, accountability, and capacity building for existing security agencies, including the police, military, and Department of State Services.
“My position, even on the House floor, is clear: governors will misuse state police, particularly against political opponents, not to maintain peace and order,” he said.
Gagdi, who has been in the National Assembly for over a decade, further urged the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify operations in forests along the Plateau, Taraba, and Bauchi borders to flush out bandits and restore peace in the troubled areas.
