Senator Jonah Jang, former governor of Plateau State, revealed he faced intense backlash when he first advocated for the creation of state police in Nigeria. He said individuals and groups directed harsh, unprintable insults at him for pushing the idea. Jang recalled the resistance during a recent public appearance, standing by his position as a necessary step toward improving security governance. He argued that state police could offer more responsive and community-focused security, especially in regions with recurring violence. Despite the earlier hostility, Jang noted growing support for the concept, with several governors and civil society groups now echoing the call. He described the shift in public sentiment as encouraging but emphasized that political will remains the biggest obstacle. The debate over state policing continues to gain traction amid rising insecurity across multiple Nigerian states.
Jonah Jang was once vilified for a proposal now being taken seriously by many state executives. His experience shows how ideas once deemed radical can shift into mainstream policy debate when sustained by persistent advocacy. The fact that state police are now under discussion by sitting governors suggests the political cost of opposing the idea may be higher than before. For ordinary Nigerians, this could mean a future where security is less centralized and more locally accountable—if the debate moves beyond rhetoric.
