Plateau Lawmaker Yusuf Gagdi Rejects Gov Mutfwang’s Push for State Police

Fears misuse against political rivals, calls for stronger federal security agencies

A fresh rift has emerged in Plateau State over the controversial debate on state policing as House of Representatives member Yusuf Gagdi has openly rejected Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s repeated calls for its creation.

Gagdi, who represents Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, told reporters during a visit to attacked and displaced communities in Kanam on Sunday that Nigeria is “not ripe” for state-controlled security forces.

Despite ongoing violence in Plateau and the infiltration of armed bandits in areas such as Garga, Kukawa, Kyaram, Gyambau, Dungur and Shuwaka, the lawmaker insisted that creating state police would only deepen political abuse.

“My position, even on the House floor, is that governors will misuse state police, particularly against political opponents, not to maintain peace and order,” Gagdi said.

“Nigeria is not ripe for proliferation of security agencies. Rather, I support strengthening existing security agencies. Fund the police, military, Department of State Services and others adequately, and ensure accountability.”

The legislator, who has spent over a decade in the National Assembly, argued that governors could easily weaponise state police against rivals rather than tackling insecurity. Instead, he urged the Federal Government to pour more resources into conventional forces and launch coordinated operations in forests along the Plateau, Taraba and Bauchi borders to flush out militias and bandits.

Governor Mutfwang has repeatedly maintained that state policing is critical to addressing Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, but opposition from figures like Gagdi underscores the deep national divide over the proposal.