Former Sokoto State Governor and current Senator for Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s renewed call for the creation of state police, describing it as a crucial step to address Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday night, monitored in Abuja, Tambuwal gave a sobering account of the security breakdown in Sokoto, especially in his senatorial district.
He dismissed fears that state police might be abused by politicians, arguing that Nigeria’s unique circumstances demand urgent action.
“I am no longer a governor but I support state police. Yes, we have federal police, but part of the problem is that when you post someone from Sokoto to Enugu, he doesn’t understand the terrain or the language. In any case, we need more boots on the ground in the police and the army,” Tambuwal explained.
The senator added that the establishment of state police must be complemented by large-scale recruitment, better welfare, and modern equipment for security agencies.
“We need to recruit more hands. Their welfare and remuneration are also key. When a personnel gets killed in the field, what happens to their families? This welfare should go beyond the personnel alone,” he stressed.
Tambuwal’s position reflects Tinubu’s push for constitutional reforms to empower states to set up their own police formations, an idea gaining momentum amid growing public frustration over insecurity.
Turning to the rising banditry in Sokoto, Tambuwal dismissed reports that the federal government was paying criminal groups, a claim earlier raised by former Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
“I am not aware. I do not know. I cannot claim to know that bandits are being paid by anyone,” he clarified, while appealing for stronger presidential intervention to end the crisis.
He painted a bleak picture of the situation, revealing that bandits have almost taken control of several local governments in Sokoto South and Sokoto East. “They have almost taken over every local government in Sokoto South and Sokoto East. The situation is getting worse. As I speak with you, Shagari Local Government has been evacuated — the villagers have fled and the terrorists are in charge. The same thing is happening in Tureta, Bodinga and other areas,” he lamented.
Tambuwal, who once served as Speaker of the House of Representatives, explained that the attackers primarily engage in kidnappings and killings, stressing the need for a simultaneous and coordinated military response. He noted that many criminal groups shift into Sokoto from Zamfara whenever security operations intensify.
On politics, Tambuwal reaffirmed his loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and hinted at the possibility of a coalition with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to unseat Tinubu in 2027.
He described the battle to deny Tinubu a second term as a national mission rather than a northern agenda. However, he cautioned that it would be difficult to defeat the president if opposition leaders such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Goodluck Jonathan, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso fail to unite behind a single candidate.
“I am 100 percent committed to the legitimate activities of the anti-Tinubu coalition to prevent his reelection,” Tambuwal said.
What You Should Know
Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal supports President Tinubu’s call for state police, arguing it is necessary to curb insecurity.
He revealed that bandits are tightening their grip on Sokoto, forcing residents to abandon local governments, and urged a strong, coordinated military response.
Politically, he backed opposition unity, warning that Tinubu’s 2027 reelection would be difficult to stop without a single joint candidate.
