Nigerian Church Leaders Support State Police to Combat Insecurity

Leaders from the Anglican, Methodist, and Presbyterian denominations in Nigeria have officially endorsed the creation of state police forces. The support was announced in a communiqué following the 10th meeting of the Spiritual Advisory Council of Christ Church in Port Harcourt, held on September 5. The council, chaired by the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria’s prelate, Ekpenyong Nyong Akpanika, argued that a localized policing structure is necessary to effectively address persistent issues of kidnapping and violent crime across the country.

The church leaders expressed their approval of the federal government’s ongoing efforts to restructure the national security framework. They noted that a dual system involving both state and federal commands could improve security if implemented with care. While acknowledging recent progress made by security agencies, the council urged the government to take urgent action against what they described as an intractable kidnapping crisis. This endorsement aligns with current legislative efforts by the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to amend the constitution to allow for state-level policing.