Plateau-based Islamic Cleric Condemns State Police, Warns of Potential Risks

Prominent Plateau State Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, has strongly opposed the federal government’s plans to create state police, arguing that such forces could be misused and worsen insecurity in the country.

Last week, President Bola Tinubu called on the National Assembly to consider amending the constitution to allow state police in response to rising security challenges.

Speaking in Jos on Sunday, Sheikh Jingir, who serves as the National Chairman of the Council of Ulama, Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’Ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), warned that creating state-controlled security outfits, particularly in politically sensitive areas like Plateau State, could be exploited by politicians to destabilize the region and target opponents.

He also highlighted the risk that local conflicts could escalate, with state police potentially being used to intimidate or attack settlers. Sheikh Jingir accused some political actors in Plateau of leveraging the push for state police to undermine the fragile peace and target individuals deemed unsympathetic to their ideology.

The cleric stressed the importance of prioritizing peace and stability over partisan interests and called for continued dialogue between communities and political actors.

“Some issues, they will pretend as if everything has gone down, but they will just raise them when the security outfit is established,” Sheikh Jingir stated.

He posed a rhetorical question about nationwide implementation: “They say they should establish police in every state. If anyone says he will accept this, are we going to accept it?” To which the audience responded in unison, “Not at all.”

Addressing President Tinubu directly, Sheikh Jingir warned: “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. Wallahi, if you grant them the permission to establish police, they will start killing those who are not inclined towards their political ideology.”