Yoruba groups reject Inspector General's 60-month state police plan, urge immediate implementation
via Punch Nigeria7 min read
A coalition of Yoruba civil society, sociocultural, and self-determination groups, under the Yoruba Assembly, has criticized the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, for his proposed 60-month phased implementation roadmap for state police. The groups, including the Yoruba Council of Elders and Oodua Peoples Congress, convened in Lagos and urged President Bola Tinubu to issue an executive order for states to recruit their own police within weeks to combat insurgency and terrorism. They argue that 60 months is too long given the urgent security situation in Nigeria. Wale Oshun, leader of the Assembly, emphasized the need for quick implementation of state police to address worsening security challenges, while also cautioning against potential misuse by political actors. He linked the call for state police to broader constitutional reforms, advocating for restructuring to grant federating units greater control over their affairs. Oshun acknowledged concerns about governors weaponizing state police but insisted that economic restructuring and improved productivity would enable states to fund and manage their security systems effectively. The communiqu茅 from the summit called for immediate implementation, stating that the 60-month proposal undermines the urgency of Nigeria's perilous security situation. It also suggested that an executive order could transfer mobile police units to their states of origin. Participants condemned a potential October 2025 coup plot, with the Yorub
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