The pan‑Yoruba group Afenifere has asked the National Assembly to amend the recently passed State Police Bill and place policing on the Concurrent List, saying some clauses risk keeping state police under strong federal control.
The appeal came during Afenifere’s caucus meeting on Thursday at the home of its leader, Chief Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, in Akure, Ondo State.
“Afenifere congratulated the Federal Government under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for sending the bill on the establishment of State Police to the National Assembly,” the group said in a communique signed by Jare Ajayi, its National Publicity Secretary.
“The body also lauded the legislature for wanting to pass the Bill expeditiously. However, there are some areas in the Bill that need to be reviewed. Areas that tend to make the proposed State Police appendages of the Federal Government.”
Afenifere warned that several clauses “tend to strengthen the stronghold of the Federal Government on state police rather than liberalising it,” and said both the National Assembly and state legislatures should “place policing on the Concurrent List.”
The meeting also reviewed security incidents across Yorubaland and the nation, including the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, now almost 50 days since the attack, and other kidnappings in the region.
“It’s about 50 days now that the incident in Oriire Local Government Area occurred. It is a big pity that the victims have not been rescued up till now,” the communiqué said.
Afenifere expressed deep sympathy with families of the abducted and asked authorities to intensify efforts, adding: “We feel highly disturbed that these innocent Nigerians are going through avoidable trauma. Actions must be expedited to get them out of the den of the bandits as quickly as possible.”
Osun State University Attack In View
The group also condemned attacks on student hostels at Osun State University (UNIOSUN), which it says were allegedly carried out by recruits from the Nigerian Army Depot in Osogbo.
“As reported, the attacks resulted in robbing the students, man‑handling some of them and inappropriately harassing some female students,” the communique stated.
Afenifere welcomed the arrest of five suspects and called for a full investigation into recruitment, training and screening procedures for security personnel to prevent future incidents.
On governance and the 2027 electoral cycle, the organisation urged peaceful conduct by politicians and called for electoral processes free of violence and thuggery.
The caucus also recommended strengthening security agencies with better equipment, morale boosting and both kinetic and non‑kinetic measures, and called for investigations into alleged local collaborators and illegal mining that displace communities.
Delegates from Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, Kogi, Osun and Ondo attended the meeting.
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