Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, has declared that the creation of state police is not a silver bullet that will automatically halt the recurring killings and violent conflicts in Benue State.
​Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, July 16, 2026, Moro argued that while the debate over decentralizing Nigeria’s security architecture is valid, the fiscal reality of many states presents a major roadblock to its success.
​Senator Moro emphasized that a majority of state governments across the federation are currently struggling to fund existing local vigilante groups and community volunteer guards. According to the lawmaker, expecting these states to suddenly shoulder the massive financial burden of establishing, equipping, and maintaining a fully functional state police force is unrealistic.
​”We must look at this issue beyond sentiments,” Moro stated. “Many states lack the financial capacity to sustain even basic local security outfits. Establishing a state police force requires humongous capital for weaponry, welfare, training, and technology. If a state cannot regularly pay salaries or fund minor volunteer guards, how can it manage a full police command?”
​While acknowledging the severe security challenges plaguing Benue State particularly the long-standing agrarian clashes and banditry Moro insisted that localizing the police force would not, on its own, guarantee peace. Instead, he called for a more holistic approach from both the federal and state governments.
​The Senate Minority Leader urged the authorities to focus on strengthening existing federal agencies by properly equipping and motivating the Nigeria Police Force and the military units currently deployed to flashpoints in Benue.
The minority leader stressed on Economic Empowerment, addressing the root socio-economic causes of crime and land disputes in the region and Intelligence-Driven Policing that Enhance community-level intelligence gathering to preempt attacks before they happen.
​Moro concluded by urging his colleagues in the National Assembly and state executives to approach the ongoing constitutional review on state policing with caution, ensuring that sub-national governments are not given responsibilities they are financially ill-equipped to handle.
